Key Social Norms Take-aways The study highlights that women’s reproductive choices are shaped not only by employment status but also by underlying gender norms and cultural expectations around women’s roles, autonomy, and family planning. Greater workforce participation is associated with increased decision-making power and autonomy, suggesting that shifts in norms around women’s economic roles can influence fertility behavior. However, persistent social and cultural norms continue to shape access to services, timing of childbearing, and acceptance of family planning. The discussion emphasizes that transforming restrictive gender norms—alongside improving workplace policies and community attitudes—is critical to enabling women to make informed reproductive choices.

Objectives The article aims to examine the relationship between women’s working status and fertility behavior, focusing on how employment influences reproductive choices, timing of childbearing, and use of family planning methods.

Methods The study uses a quantitative research design based on a two-stage stratified sampling approach comparing working and non-working women. Statistical analyses, including generalized additive models (GAM), are applied to assess differences in fertility patterns, reproductive timing, and family planning behaviors across groups. The data are self-reported, with acknowledged limitations such as recall and social desirability bias.

Results The findings show that working women have lower fertility rates on average compared to non-working women. Employment status is significantly associated with differences in reproductive timing (e.g., interval between marriage and first birth), awareness and use of family planning services, and choice of contraceptive methods. Working women tend to have greater access to information and healthcare, but may face time-related barriers to service use. Importantly, employment is strongly linked to increased autonomy and decision-making power in family planning.

Conclusions The study concludes that the relationship between women’s employment and fertility is complex and mediated by multiple factors, including autonomy, access to services, and socio-cultural context. It underscores the need for tailored policies and interventions that support women’s dual roles, improve access to family planning, and address structural and normative barriers. Promoting gender equality, reproductive rights, and supportive workplace policies is essential for enabling women to make informed and autonomous reproductive decisions.