Determinants of Women’s Return to Work After Childbirth: The Interplay of Social, Economic and Demographic Factors Across Employment Sectors in Sri Lanka

Women’s return to work after childbirth is a multidimensional social-demographic process shaped by the interaction of family support, childcare responsibilities, economic necessity, career continuity, maternity leave provisions, workplace flexibility, spouse and household characteristics, and residential circumstances. Rather than being determined by employment sector alone, women’s decisions to resume employment reflect the ways in which family, workplace and economic resources are combined to negotiate the competing demands of motherhood and paid employment. Therefor The primary objective of this study was to identify how social, economic, demographic factors impact for women when returning to work after childbirth. A qualitative research approach had been used. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 female employees from each of six selected institutions (two institutions each from the public, private, and semi-government sectors), resulting in a total of 30 participants. Findings revealed that women’s return to employment after childbirth was influenced by the interaction of social, demographic, economic, and workplace factors. Family support, childcare arrangements, household economic conditions, and spousal employment shaped women’s ability and decision to return to work. Economic necessity and the pursuit of financial independence were important motivations, particularly among women from lower-income households. Workplace factors, including maternity leave, breastfeeding facilities, flexible working arrangements, career stability, and length of service, facilitated employment continuity. Differences across public, private, and semi-government institutions further highlighted the importance of institutional support.

Women, Childbirth, Returning to work, Family

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