IDJ study links variable schedules to work barriers
Between 66% and 67% of families in Puerto Rico identify unpredictable work schedules as a major barrier to entering and remaining in the workforce, according to a new study by the Youth Development Institute.
The analysis, titled “What time do I start tomorrow? Variable schedules and the dilemma of working mothers,” examines how fluctuating work hours and limited access to child care during nontraditional schedules affect parents and caregivers.
The study is based on data from the Socioeconomic Survey of Families With Minors in Puerto Rico and interviews with female heads of household.
The findings show that irregular schedules often force families into difficult choices, including bringing children to work to avoid missing shifts. The study frames schedule instability and gaps in child care as structural obstacles, rather than individual challenges.
“This analysis demonstrates that the unpredictability of work schedules and the lack of child care during nontraditional hours are not individual problems, but rather structural barriers that directly affect the ability of many single mothers to maintain employment,” said Sarah Vázquez-Pérez, executive director of the institute.
“Overcoming these barriers requires intersectoral coordination, intentionally implemented public policies and decisions that respond to how families actually live and work,” she said.
The study also highlights the role of existing public policy, particularly the Public Policy Act to Combat Child Poverty and Social Inequality, which includes provisions related to expanded child care access, extended service hours and interagency coordination.
“Act 84 establishes a clear path to address several of the challenges families face when trying to maintain employment,” said María Enchautegui, director of research and knowledge at the institute. She said stronger coordination of essential services would improve job stability for working families.
Enchautegui added that fully activating the mechanisms and commission established under the law could provide a more effective framework for addressing job quality and family needs.
“It’s a concrete opportunity to transform existing policies into tangible results for families,” she said.
The analysis also outlines potential measures that employers, industries and the public sector could adopt to support families’ economic mobility, including pilot programs in sectors with frequent schedule variability and initiatives that recognize family-friendly workplace practices.
