Of 72 promen say cent more often than women (55 procents) that they must work because their income cannot be missed. More men than women also want to earn enough to support themselves and their children. This difference is greatest for cohabiting couples with children. In these couples, fathers help 77 procents also most often indicate that their income cannot be missed.
| Want to be financially independent | 75 | 87 |
|---|---|---|
| Must work, because income is indispensable | 55 | 72 |
| Wants to be able to support himself (and children). | 74 | 85 |
| Would like to be financially well off (together). | 84 | 88 |
Fathers usually financially independent
The great importance that fathers attach to their own income goes hand in hand with a relatively high proportion of the economically self-employed. 9 out of 10 fathers with a partner were financially independent in 2021. It was less among cohabiting mothers: 7 out of 10. If they do not (yet) have children, the financial independence of women and men (up to age 45) is different. relatively little. The arrival of children is often a turning point in women’s careers. 45 procent will work less or stop if they have a child, for men this is not yet the case 7 procents.
Of 55 procent, single mothers with a child under twelve were the least likely to be financially independent. For mothers whose youngest child is twelve or older, this was included 65 procent higher and the difference with single fathers was also smaller. Relatively few women over 45 without minor children were financially independent. The difference with men is particularly large among cohabiting couples.
| Total | 66.3 | 81.4 |
|---|---|---|
| No minor children (yet). | ||
| Single up to 45 years | 78.1 | 76.6 |
| Live together until age 45 | 84.2 | 90.8 |
| Minor children | ||
| Cohabitant, youngest child up to 12 years | 71.4 | 90.8 |
| Cohabitant, youngest child 12 to 18 | 72.3 | 90 |
| Single parent, youngest child up to 12 years | 54.9 | 77.2 |
| Single parent, youngest child 12 to 18 years | 65.4 | 80.1 |
| No minor children (anymore) | ||
| Cohabitant, 45 years or older | 55.5 | 80.6 |
| Single, 45 years or older | 55.7 | 64.2 |
1 in 3 non-financially independent women work
From the spacious 1.6 milliono and women who were not financially independent in 2021 had 32 procent paid work. They therefore earn less with that work than the assistance level, primarily because they work few hours and/or have a low hourly wage. 47 procent benefits received and 21 procent had no own income at all. In financially independent men (912 thousand) at 27 percent, the proportion who work is slightly lower than among women. Most (64 percent) were on benefits.
2 out of 3 part-time women would like to work more
Almost 7 out of 10 working women will work part-time (less than 35 hours per week) in 2021. of these part-time employees 65 procent want to work more hours under certain conditions than they do now. Especially if the household income would no longer be sufficient, women would consider working more. Although work can be better combined with private life, they would like to extend their working week. Some wait for their employer’s request to come and work more hours.
Of the women not working now, a quarter would go to work if circumstances were different. Finding work close to home, with the desired number of hours and harmonizing with their private life are the most important prerequisites for them to start working (again). Good and cheap childcare would make relatively few women work (more).
| Insufficient household income | 29 | 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Working hours (better) adapt to privacy |
22 | 11 |
| Partly being able to work at home | 19 | 11 |
| Be asked (more) at work |
16 | 9 |
| A job with desired hours |
11 | 15 |
| Closer to home can work |
9 | 17 |
| Good and cheap Daycare |
9 | 5 |
| People in the environment not anymore need help |
6 | 1 |
| Second state | 6 | 3 |
More than 200 thousand women are underemployed part-time
Almost 7 perpercent of working women who are not in education want to work more hours and are also free within two weeks. These are the underemployed part-time employees. It’s about 209 yousend women (and 77 thousandand men) in 2021. Mothers with the youngest child between twelve and eighteen are the most underemployed part-time employees with 9 percent, women without children the fewest (4 procents).
Further in the Emancipation Monitor
- Economic independence has grown especially among women
- More untapped labor potential among women
- Most parents want to share care equally
- One fifth of working men want a shorter working week
- More women in top political positions
- A tenth of women experience unwanted sexual attention at work
- Women feel insecure more often than men
- Women feel unhealthy, men live unhealthy
- The Netherlands is third in the EU ranking for gender equality.