Factors associated with employment status of parents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Since Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) became mandatory as of July 1, 1997, many concerned researchers and policymakers have been anxious to know how work-based welfare reform has affected families with children. This study examined the employment patterns of parents receiving public assistance under TANF and factors associated with their employment status. In addition to individual and family characteristics, the study examined the effects of state-level variables on employment status of recipients. The study found that the length of time a state had prepared for welfare reform prior to TANF was important in predicting the probability of employment for parents on welfare. A state's unemployment rate, the degree of education, disability, and the number of children were all found to be significant factors for determining employment status. Also, this study found that Hispanics on TANF were more disadvantaged in job opportunities than other ethnic groups.