Second births in Spain: women’s labour characteristics and types of couples

Abstract

Fertility in Spain has declined in recent decades, being one of the lowest in Europe. The transition to the second birth is one of the most important processes to better understand this reduction. Based on data from the Survey of Living Conditions (2004–2020), this study analyzes the impact of women’s and their partners’ labor and socioeconomic characteristics on the decision to have a second child. The sample includes 4,058 women aged 18 to 45 who are in a couple and have one child. Results indicate that women’s education and occupation individually and positively influence their reproductive decisions. From a couple’s perspective, equal access to stable employment is decisive, while male economic superiority still prevails. The concentration of second births in unions with greater job security or where there is the possibility of continuity in childbearing conditions suggests the need to promote long-term policies that support work-life balance.