This study aims to examine the effect of maternal employment in early childhood on the
child’s later development (outcomes). Specifically, this study conducted an empirical
analysis of how maternal employment in the child’s first three years affects (1) the
child’s test scores from elementary school grade 1 to junior high school grade 3
(Mathematics, Japanese language, and Reasoning); (2) the child’s school scores as
viewed by the parent; (3) the child’s problem behavior as viewed by the parent; (4) the
child’s prosocial behavior as viewed by the parent; and (5) the child’s QOL (quality of
life). The results suggest a significant negative correlation between maternal
employment in early childhood and the child’s test scores. However, the results show
that maternal employment in early childhood have hardly any effect upon the child’s
school scores as viewed by the parent, problem behavior and prosocial behavior as
viewed by the parent, and QOL. Furthermore, the results also show that the negative
correlation between maternal employment in early childhood and the child’s test scores
diminish in higher school grades and that by the stage of junior high school, there is no
correlation.