The Impact of Family Caregiving on Midlife Employment: An Analysis Based on the 2018 CHARLS Data

This paper employs a multiple regression model and utilizes data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) to analyze the impact of family elderly care on children's employment. Additionally, it examines the moderating effects of gender, urban-rural status, and education on this relationship. The main findings of this study can be summarized as follows: First, participation in family care (including care for the elderly and grandchildren) reduces the working hours of children. Second, involvement in the care of grandchildren is associated with a decrease in children's work income. Third, through heterogeneity tests, the study further verifies the impact of family elderly care on the employment of middle-aged children, considering differences in individual and family characteristics. The results indicate that family elderly care has a negative impact on children's employment and that this impact is heterogeneous.