The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development presented a report last Wednesday highlighting the need for our country to promote policies that make it easier to reconcile work, family, and personal life. In fact, the document notes that Spanish families’ difficulties in balancing work and family are causing the country’s low rates of female employment and fertility. In Spain, the fertility rate is 1.4 children per woman, compared with an average of 1.74 across the 34 OECD countries.
According to the study, postponing motherhood for work-related reasons has raised the average age at which Spanish women have their first child to 30.
Regarding female employment rates in Spain, the report notes that although these rates have increased in our country—from 32.5% in 1995 to 53.5% in 2009—we are still below the OECD average.
The report also states that many parents rely on grandparents’ support to care for their children outside school hours. In fact, approximately one-quarter of grandparents in our country care for their grandchildren every day.
In addition, the OECD highlights that in Spain, women spend more time on unpaid work—specifically, five hours a day—compared with the less than two hours spent by men. The study’s authors believe that a more equitable division of unpaid work could contribute to greater participation by both fathers and mothers in the labor market.
Spain ranks 29th out of 35 countries in family welfare policies, while Denmark, Finland, Norway, Austria, and Sweden occupy the top positions in the ranking.
The OECD highlights the lack of work–family reconciliation policies in Spain.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development presented a report last Wednesday highlighting the need for our country to promote policies that make it easier to reconcile work, family, and personal life. In fact, the document notes that Spanish families’ difficulties in balancing work and family are causing the country’s low rates of female employment and fertility. In Spain, the fertility rate is 1.4 children per woman, compared with an average of 1.74 across the 34 OECD countries.
According to the study, postponing motherhood for work-related reasons has raised the average age at which Spanish women have their first child to 30.
Regarding female employment rates in Spain, the report notes that although these rates have increased in our country—from 32.5% in 1995 to 53.5% in 2009—we are still below the OECD average.
The report also states that many parents rely on grandparents’ support to care for their children outside school hours. In fact, approximately one-quarter of grandparents in our country care for their grandchildren every day.
In addition, the OECD highlights that in Spain, women spend more time on unpaid work—specifically, five hours a day—compared with the less than two hours spent by men. The study’s authors believe that a more equitable division of unpaid work could contribute to greater participation by both fathers and mothers in the labor market.
Spain ranks 29th out of 35 countries in family welfare policies, while Denmark, Finland, Norway, Austria, and Sweden occupy the top positions in the ranking.
