Data released by the Education Department earlier this year showed male university students across the country made up less than 40 per cent of domestic enrolments for the first time in 2022. But despite a growing number of women pursuing the career-rich potential of higher education, more than half of Aussie men ask their female partners to quit their jobs due to unaffordable childcare, compared to just 39 per cent of women who request the same of their male partner.
Global HR platform Remote released its Global Working Parents Report this week, revealing divisions between how men and women perceive work and working conditions as new parents. The survey also shows 43 per cent of Aussie families are paying more for childcare than the average rental property.
Remote surveyed 1,009 Australian parents working in white collar/office jobs with at least one child under the age of five – a combination of hybrid style, fully remote, or fully in-office workers. The survey, conducted with 13,850 working parents across 13 countries (including Australia), uncovers the high financial and mental health price paid by families juggling work and parental responsibilities and paying for childcare.
Survey highlights:
- Childcare now costs more than the average rental property
More than one third (36 per cent) of working Australian parents pay between $600 and $2000 per week in childcare-related costs, including fees, transportation to and from, as well as additional babysitting fees. Around one in 10 (seven per cent) working parents pay more than $2000 per week in childcare-related costs.
With the Australian national average rent now at $627, according to CoreLogic, this means that almost half (43 per cent) of working parents are paying more for childcare each week than the cost of the average rental property.
- Women’s careers are on the line as they are expected to shoulder the primary burden of childcare
More than half (55 per cent) of Australian men have asked their female partner to quit their job or consider quitting their job due to a lack of affordable childcare options. Only 39 per cent of Australian women have made a similar request to their partners.
61 per cent of women have taken a pay cut or felt forced to reduce their working hours due to a lack of affordable childcare options, compared to 46 per cent of men.81 per cent of all respondents to the survey agreed that the cost of childcare is setting women back in their careers.
- Women experience disproportionate feelings of guilt and anxiety as working parents
Almost all women (92 per cent) experienced feelings of guilt or anxiety when returning to work after having children, compared to 76 per cent of men. Of these, more than double the number of women classify their anxiety as ‘severe’ (24 per cent of women, compared to just nine per cent of men).77 per cent of women have experienced feelings of guilt or anxiety when requesting time off for childcare needs, compared with 64 per cent of men.
- Return to office mandates for parents of young children could spark mass walk-outs
81 per cent of working parents with children under five said they would consider leaving their jobs if they had to work more days in the office.51 per cent of working parents claim that a return to the office mandate, implemented after the COVID-19 pandemic, was unfair to them as working parents.
“We conducted this survey to examine the challenges faced by working parents as they balance career aspirations with childcare responsibilities. What has become increasingly evident is that employers must embrace flexibility,” says co-founder and CEO of Remote Job van der Voort.
“Providing flexibility in where and how work gets done is not just a perk but a necessity for today’s workforce, especially to empower working parents to better navigate their professional and personal lives, fostering a culture of inclusivity, productivity, and well-being.”
