Abstract

This study investigates determinants of lone mothers’ participation in active labor market programs in Germany. Entries into labor market programs are analyzed on the basis of the Integrated Employment Biography data set and the Unemployment Benefit II History data set. The method of analysis is event-history analysis. Lone mothers’ program participation rates are compared to those of childless men and women with and without a partner, partnered mothers and fathers, as well as lone fathers, distinguishing by age of the youngest child. Separate analyses are conducted for eastern and western Germany. The impact of a number of further factors, such partner characteristics as well as of the local childcare infrastructure is studied as well.