Family crisis in Austria: This is how fathers and mothers benefit from it!

Family crisis in Austria: This is how fathers and mothers benefit from it!

The demographic development in Germany and Austria forces a fundamental re -evaluation of the compatibility of family and work. According to a current report by Kleine Zeitung , a "massive reorientation of CVs" is necessary to cope with the challenges of society. Low birth rates and an aging population require new approaches in education, employment and family care.

A central aspect is the inclusion of fathers and the creation of better conditions for women. Women in both countries often face the choice of either not fulfilling the traditional mother role or accepting lower income opportunities compared to men, which has been shown to prevent many from getting children or reducing family size.

changes in the world of work

In 2023, 68 % of the 7.2 million mothers of their employable age were employed, while the fathers' acquisition was in an impressive 92 %, without interruptions due to maternity leave or parental leave. These figures illustrate the discrepancy between the sexes and the challenge of reconciling work with family obligations. This is particularly striking that is a different acquisition of mothers in East and West Germany. For example, 48 % of mothers in the east with children under the age of three were employed, while in the West there were only 38 %, which is due to different care situations, as from the Federal Center for Political Education

This challenge does not only affect mothers. Also single parents and people who maintain relatives are faced with the difficult task of reconciling professional and family requirements. The Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB) Forschen and analyzes, among other things, the distribution of acquisition and family work as well as gender-specific wage differences.

causes and suggestions for solutions

One of the greatest concerns of the population in both countries is the unfinance of the pension system, the deterioration in health care and the shortage of skilled workers. According to the Kleine Zeitung show that 53 % of Austrians are very interested in the challenges of demographic change. Preferred measures to combat problems include improving the compatibility of work and family and private pension provision. However, there is little support for the targeted recruitment of foreign specialists and for increases in retirement age.

In view of the changed age structure, in which the proportion of over 65-year-olds will increase from 20 % to 30 % by 2060, it is essential to think about a “right to vote” in order to strengthen the voices of families and to promote political movements. These proposals are part of a comprehensive discussion that is urgently necessary to tackle the challenges of demographic change and to create a sustainable social balance.