A study by Prognos AG for the corporate program "Erfolgsfaktor Familie" ("Success Factor: Family") surveyed around 1,500 part-time mothers. According to the study, the main reasons for part-time work include mothers needing sufficient time for children and housework, as well as suboptimal childcare facilities. Inadequate energy is cited by less than half (43 percent) as a reason for their part-time work.

"More compatibility enables more work. And more work leads to greater prosperity."

Promoting maternal employment through better work-life balance

For part-time working mothers to increase their working hours, the survey indicates that measures to support and save their time are crucial. A strong corporate policy for work-life balance has a significant impact on their willingness to increase working hours, according to the Prognos AG study. The motivation often exists: Nearly half of the part-time mothers (45 percent) would increase their working hours if corporate conditions such as flexibility, communication, and career opportunities were improved. The benefits of such efforts are substantial: Increasing maternal employment has the potential of around 14 million additional weekly working hours, equivalent to approximately 350,000 additional full-time equivalents.

Unlocking potential—for everyone's benefit

Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), emphasized at the "Erfolgsfaktor Familie" Corporate Day a few months ago in Berlin how rewarding it is to strengthen maternal employment: "If we make it easier for parents—especially mothers—to gradually re-enter the workforce and expand their working hours, everyone benefits: families, companies, and the labor market. The calculation is simple: better work-life balance enables more employment. And more employment leads to greater prosperity."

Family-friendly working conditions benefit everyone—they are the key to unlocking the potential of part-time mothers. Businesses hold the power to seize this opportunity and contribute to better work-life balance through their HR policies and corporate measures.

Publication for Download

The study "More is possible! What companies can do to help mothers meet their desired working hours" can be downloaded from the website of the corporate network "Erfolgsfaktor Familie" (only available in German).