The Association between Multiple Income Support Program Participation and Long-Term Employment Among Single-Mother Families

Background and Purpose

Substantial research has studied on welfare participation and employment outcomes among single mothers after welfare reform. However, prior research has mostly focused on single program participation and examined employment outcomes at one point in time or over a short period. When low-income single mothers experience employment instability, they often rely on income support programs, as a part of a family’s income package, to help sustain their families' economic well-being. Inadequate analyses on multiple program participation and how it relates to employment limit our understanding of the diverse pathways that lead to long-term economic success among single mothers. To fill the gap, this research aims to (1) examine patterns of multiple program participation among single-mother families over time; (2) analyze employment trajectories of single mothers over time; (3) explore relationships between multiple program participation and employment stability.

Methods

This research uses the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation panel data (Wave 1 through Wave 16) to address its research aims. The sample includes 18-65 years old low-income single mothers with at least one related child under the age of 18 in the household. Each sample has sixty-four monthly data points to identify program participation and employment patterns. First, weighted descriptive statistics are used to examine patterns of multiple program participation rates, including means-tested cash programs, means-tested in-kind programs, and contribution-based insurance programs. Second, Group-Based Trajectory Modeling (GBTM) is used to test the optimal numbers and shapes of employment trajectories. Finally, we use the group membership estimated from the GBTM and multinomial logistic regression modeling to examine the association between multiple program participation and employment trajectories, controlling for individual and structural factors.

Results

The results show that multiple program participation that includes means-tested in-kind programs or Unemployment Insurance increased over time. Moreover, we found substantial diversity in long-term employment among low-income single mothers. Seven employment trajectories were identified. Some single mothers had consistently employed, others made significant and stable improvement in employment over the five-year period, and others had unstable employment with a positive ending. In contrast, some typical single mothers did not work at all, a few mothers experienced consistently decreasing employment, others had unstable employment with a negative ending, and others had an inconsistent pattern. Finally, results from the multinomial logistic regression modeling suggest a statistically significant association between multiple program participation rates/intensity and employment trajectories.

Conclusion and Implications

Using nationally representative longitudinal data, this study generates rich and informative knowledge on how patterns of multiple program participation vary by employment trajectory groups. Substantial variation in multiple program participation among different employment trajectory groups suggests the need for packaging income and work supports for single-mother families. This study will inform policy decisions on how combining different income support packages may increase the economic stability and reduce poverty of one of the most economically-vulnerable populations in the United States—single-mother families. It also offers implications for social work practice on assisting single mother families in connecting to multiple income support programs in order to stabilize their economic security.