Women in Virginia are choosing to give birth later and later in life.
In the last five years, Virginia has seen a significant shift, one that may have consequences for years to come. Women in their late 20's are no longer the group bearing the most children. These days, it’s women in their early 30's.
Shonel Sen at the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service says these numbers reflect a national shift.
“The same trend is also reflected in Virginia, but the numbers are slightly more intense. So Virginia follows the same pattern. But the fertility decline is more prominent in Virginia.”
Even though women in their 30s are giving birth at a slightly greater rate now, the fertility rate for women in their 20's has plummeted in recent years, creating an overall decline in the birth rate. Sen says there could be a number of factors at play here: longer educational careers, greater labor force participation or even the overall economic climate.
“Just in terms of education and employment, we see that Virginia is outperforming the national average. And this will play a role in fertility decision making.”
One potential caveat to the numbers, she says, is that they reflect a snapshot in time — women in their 20s might start having more children next year or the year after that. But, for now, the trend is moving in the other direction.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
