RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Booms, Busts, and Fertility JF Journal of Human Resources JO J Hum Resour FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 1 OP 29 DO 10.3368/jhr.51.1.1 VO 51 IS 1 A1 Schaller, Jessamyn YR 2016 UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/51/1/1.abstract AB In this paper, I present estimates of the effect of local labor demand shocks on birth rates. To identify exogenous variation in male and female labor demand, I create indices that exploit cross-sectional variation in industry composition, changes in gender-education composition within industries, and growth in national industry employment. Consistent with economic theory, I find that improvements in men’s labor market conditions are associated with increases in fertility while improvements in women’s labor market conditions have smaller negative effects. I separately find that increases in unemployment rates are associated with small decreases in birth rates at the state level.