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Objective: we explore migrant-native differentials in the uptake of formal and informal childcare and whether this is induced by lower demand for childcare versus differential access to (in)formal childcare compared to natives. Background: The rise in female labour market participation in recent decades has challenged parents to negotiate work and family responsibilities and organise childcare. Belgium is among the European countries with the highest availability of formal childcare, but maternal employment and uptake of childcare are substantially lower in migrant populations. Methods: Combining linked microdata from the 1991 and 2001 censuses with contextual data on childcare availability at the municipality level, we use multinomial logit models to study childcare use and type of childcare arrangement among parents having a young child in 2001. As access to childcare and maternal employment are mutually endogenous, we use estimated employment opportunities. Results: We find considerable migrant-native differentials in childcare use, as well as substantial differences between first and second generation migrants. Second generation mothers of Turkish, Moroccan and Eastern-European background are less likely than natives to use childcare, and more likely to rely on informal arrangements if childcare is used. Controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and differential availability of (in)formal childcare largely accounts for differences in childcare use, but Turkish and Moroccan women remain less likely to use care and first generation Turkish mothers remain more likely to use informal care as opposed to formal childcare. Conclusions: While differences in socio-demographic characteristics, labour market opportunities and availability of (in)formal care provide a partial explanation, partial migrant-native differentials in childcare use persist for specific groups, suggesting that other factors inhibit the uptake of formal childcare., Fragestellung: Wir untersuchen in diesem Beitrag die Unterschiede in der Inanspruchnahme von Kinderbetreuung nach Migrationshintergrund. Dabei unterscheide wir zwischen formeller Kinderbetreuung ("crèche" und Tagespflege), informeller Betreuung (Familienangehörige und Freunde) und "kombinierte" Arrangements informeller und formeller Betreuung. Wir kontrollieren für sozio-demographische Merkmale des Haushalts, mütterliches Erwerbsverhalten, regionale Kinderbetreuungsquoten und Verfügbarkeit von nahen Familienangehörigen als Proxy für informelle Betreuung. Hintergrund: Belgien ist eines der europäischen Länder, das sich durch eine hohe Verfügbarkeit institutioneller Kinderbetreuung auszeichnet, wobei allerdings die Müttererwerbstätigkeit wie auch die Inanspruchnahme institutioneller Kinderbetreuung unter der Migrantenpopulation relativ niedrig ausfällt. Methode: Als Datenbasis dienen Mikrodaten, die mit dem Zensus aus den Jahren 1991 und 2001 verbundenen wurden, die Informationen zu lokalen Kinderbetreuungsquoten enthalten. Als Methode wurden multinomiale Logit-Modelle geschätzt, wobei die abhängige Variable die Art des Betreuungsarrangements von Eltern abbildet, dessen jüngstes Kind im Jahr 2001 geboren wurde. Da Kinderbetreuung und Müttererwerbsverhalten endogene Prozesse sind, haben wir in den Modellen für das geschätzte Erwerbsverhalten nach Migrationshintergrund kontrolliert. Ergebnisse: Die Analysen zeigen, dass vor allem nicht-europäische Migranten seltener Kinderbetreuungsarrangement nutzen als Einheimische, wobei sich diese Unterschiede auch in die zweite Generation forttragen. Wenn Kindebetreuung in Anspruch genommen wird, wählen europäische Migranten eher formelle, hingegen nicht-europäische Migranten eher informelle Arrangements. Die Unterschiede im Erwerbsverhalten erklären zu einem großen Teil die Unterschiede zwischen Migranten und Einheimischen in der Nutzung institutioneller Betreuung. Schlussfolgerung: Während sich die Unterschiede in der Kinderbetre

Active labour market policies, like training, aim to increase the employability of unemployed population subgroups. Research indicates that the most vulnerable groups—such as women of migrant origin—are less likely to participate in the most effective programmes. Prior studies have established that household composition affects the labour market outcomes of women without and with a migration background. In contrast, research has not addressed the potential relevance of household composition in relation to women’s training uptake. Using hazard models and longitudinal microdata from the employment office and social security registers, we analyse the extent to which women’s household composition such as the presence and the origin of their partner or the presence of children is associated with the uptake of occupation‐specific training in Flanders (Belgium). Our results suggest that, even when we control for previously identified determinants of training uptake such as the human capital of unemployed women, training uptake in most groups varies by household composition. More specifically, the results suggest that women with a partner of non‐migrant origin show higher cumulative uptake than women with a migrant origin partner or single women, and that the presence of children in the household reduces women’s training participation. Furthermore, household composition is found to be a stronger differentiating factor in uptake for migrant origin women than for non‐migrant origin women.

Active labour market policies, like training, aim to increase the employability of unemployed population subgroups. Research indicates that the most vulnerable groups - such as women of migrant origin - are less likely to participate in the most effective programmes. Prior studies have established that household composition affects the labour market outcomes of women without and with a migration background. In contrast, research has not addressed the potential relevance of household composition in relation to women's training uptake. Using hazard models and longitudinal microdata from the employment office and social security registers, we analyse the extent to which women's household composition such as the presence and the origin of their partner or the presence of children is associated with the uptake of occupation‐specific training in Flanders (Belgium). Our results suggest that, even when we control for previously identified determinants of training uptake such as the human capital of unemployed women, training uptake in most groups varies by household composition. More specifically, the results suggest that women with a partner of non‐migrant origin show higher cumulative uptake than women with a migrant origin partner or single women, and that the presence of children in the household reduces women's training participation. Furthermore, household composition is found to be a stronger differentiating factor in uptake for migrant origin women than for non‐migrant origin women.