Single parents and employment in Europe

This paper examines the key characteristics of single parents through descriptive and comparative perspectives. Our analyses suggest that the experiences and needs of single-parent households differ according to the age of both the parent and child, and that the vast majority of such households are single-mother households. The analysis shows that younger mothers and mothers with young children are the least-employed parent groups, and that this is exacerbated for single mothers. This is relevant to policy considerations, as the age composition of single-parent households also differs from nation to nation. This short statistical report is part of a series of reports on gender equality in the workforce and the reconciliation of work, family and private life. These reports have been commissioned by the Justice Directorate General of the European Commission. The study was jointly undertaken by RAND Europe and the University of Groningen. These reports should be of interest to policy makers and academics with an interest in improving gender equality in the workforce and improving the compatibility of combining a career with a family and personal life.