Cohabiting couples less likely to have a first child

COUPLES who cohabit are less likely to decide to have a first child than couples who are married, especially if they have a high level of education.

A detailed study of the 2006 census also reveals a father’s education influences the decision to have children almost as much as that of the mother.

The ESRI report suggests that delayed childbearing is driven by more than concerns about women’s careers.