Using a mixed-method design, this study explores the heterogeneity in employment trajectories before and after the transition to lone parenthood in Switzerland. First, we perform sequence and cluster analysis on data from the Swiss Household panel to identify typical employment trajectories around the transition to lone parenthood, and then estimate their association with individual and household characteristics (N=462). Finally, we contrast these results with findings from a content analysis of narrative interviews with lone mothers residing in Switzerland (N=38), focusing on values and norms concerning work and care. We identify five employment patterns characterized by either an increase in labor supply (especially for those with more/older children) or by stability in or outside the labor market (for highly educated or younger mothers respectively). The analyses of the interviews provide insights on how employment opportunities and decisions differ by entry mode into lone parenthood, the post-separation relationship with the children’s father, and the ability to mobilize individual, social and institutional resources. The heterogeneity of employment trajectories calls for more attention to within-group differences rather than focusing exclusively on the divide between lone and coupled mothers. By identifying the multiplicity of factors shaping lone mothers’ decisions on their labor market participation, this work feeds into the literature suggesting that effective policies encouraging lone mothers’ labor-market participation should consider: (i) their normative priorities when facing work and care trade-offs, and (ii) the availability of informal and formal support.

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单身母亲的就业轨迹：纵向混合方法研究

本研究采用混合方法设计，探索了在瑞士过渡到孤儿父母之前和之后就业轨迹的异质性。首先，我们对来自瑞士家庭小组的数据进行序列和聚类分析，以识别在过渡到单亲家庭过程中的典型就业轨迹，然后估计它们与个人和家庭特征的关联（N = 462）。最后，我们将这些结果与对居住在瑞士（N = 38）的单身母亲的叙述性访谈进行内容分析得出的结果进行对比，研究重点是关于工作和照料的价值观和规范。我们确定了五种就业模式，其特征是劳动力供应增加（尤其是有较大/较大子女的人）或劳动力市场内部或外部的稳定（分别针对受过高等教育的母亲或较年轻的母亲）。访谈的分析提供了有关就业机会和决定的差异的见解，这些因素取决于进入独身父母的方式，与孩子父亲的分居后关系以及动员个人，社会和机构资源的能力。就业轨迹的异质性要求更多地关注群体内部的差异，而不是仅仅关注独生子女和成年母亲之间的鸿沟。通过确定影响单身母亲参与劳动力市场决策的多种因素，