The Influence of Human Capital on Fertility Intentions: The Moderating Role of Satisfaction with Leave Policies

In recent years, fertility has received much attention in the context of globalization. This study attempts to assess the influence of human capital on fertility intentions and to examine the moderating effect of satisfactory leave policies between human capital and fertility intentions across different genders. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in four provinces of China, namely Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan. The results show a positive influence of human capital on fertility intentions and a remarkable moderating effect of satisfaction with vacation policy between human capital and fertility intentions among men. However, there is no significant moderating effect for women. This study suggests that men show higher fertility intentions when they can take leave, which may be due to the expectation of better family support. Conversely, women face significant fertility challenges, which mitigates the impact of leave on their fertility intentions. The study's novelty is that it reveals the differential effects of leave policies on fertility intentions across genders, providing new insights into the gender dynamics of human capital and fertility intentions. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed for creating a stable employment environment and implementing comprehensive job security measures tailored to women's fertility needs to reduce fertility losses and alleviate employment pressures.