Transitions of young people into the labor market, first birth and leaving school: the Brazilian case

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between the ages when young people leave school, enter the labor market and set up their own families. The Survival Analysis methodology was used. A descriptive analysis was carried out through a non-parametric model (Kaplan Meier) to estimate survival functions for each of these transitions, by gender. A semi-parametric model (Cox’s Proportional Risks Model) was also used, which included variables such as mother’s and father’s educational levels and situation of residence until age 15. The database used in this study was the Life Patterns Research. The results captured the experience of transition of persons ages 20 to 49 at the time of the study (1996-1997). They therefore do not necessarily represent the experience of young people who are in transition in this first decade of the 21st century. The findings of the study are important basically due to this characteristic. If, for the experience of these cohorts, there is clearly a sequence of transitions, and the age at first child lowers the risk of leaving school by only 0.9%, this is because the transition to first child is not the main reason for dropping out of school. Therefore, the challenges, the ages and the intervening factors seen constitute very important information for public policies in education, training, generation of jobs, habitation and health.