10294: Unemployment’s Effects on Children’s Education and Careers - A Systematic Review (session 26256)

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

15:30 - 17:00 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall B- B5-m8

Session Type: Paper Session
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/qdkxpv

Author(s)

DU

Dana Unger

UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
ZB

Zografia Bika

U. of East Anglia (UEA), United Kingdom
MD

Maike Debus

University of Neuchâtel
CH

Charlotte Hopp

RWTH Aachen University, Germany
UK

Ute-Christine Klehe

Justus-Liebig U. Giessen, Germany

Parental unemployment and unemployment in a geographical entity (e.g., a country) can have a profound effect on children’s education and career outcomes which may contribute to the consolidation and aggravation of social inequalities. We review these effects. Our systematic review is informed by research from economics, sociology, and psychology. We summarize 80 studies from 1979 to 2024 in an integrative, multidisciplinary approach. Results show that parental unemployment adversely affects children’s educational and career outcomes, whereas unemployment in a geographical entity appears to have both beneficial and detrimental effects. Our review points to intervention opportunities targeted at different levels. We highlight the necessity to conduct research that looks at the interplay of parental unemployment and unemployment in a geographical unit as well as explanatory mechanisms and boundary conditions.

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