Economic Conditions, Maternal Employment and Childcare. When Money Spells Have a Nice Day, Mom!

What were the economic conditions in which Québec children born at the end of the 1990s lived before starting school (that is, from birth to about 4 years of age)? What were the characteristics of families that were able to “make ends meet” during the years following the birth of a child? These are the questions this publication will attempt to answer.

We shall also look at what happens when mothers enter or reenter the work force. Because maternal employment and childcare often constitute two elements of an equation, we will then profile how childcare services are used by families. In particular we will examine the use of the reduced contribution educational childcare services that were gradually set up beginning in 1997 in Québec.