Family - Desire and reality differ when it comes to daycare times
Between the wishes of parents and the child care offerings in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), there is a large gap. The Federal Institute for Population Research has calculated: For 30.8 percent of all families with children under three years old in NRW, there is an additional child care need of at least five weekly hours. The situation is slightly better for families with children over three years old: Here, 29.4 percent in NRW wish for longer child care.
NRW is clearly behind the federal average in this regard for children under three. Nationwide, 29 percent of all families with children under three have an additional child care need of at least five weekly hours. For families with children over three, 37 percent nationwide wish for longer child care. The situation in NRW is better than the national average.
Lack of fit not good for labor market shortage
The lack of fit, according to the study authors, has social consequences: for children, for parents, and ultimately for the labor market. They therefore recommend orienting opening hours more strongly towards the needs of families - especially in light of the labor shortage in Germany.
"Many parents cannot find an educational and child care place for their child that meets their desired requirements under the current conditions," summarizes Katharina Spieß, Director of the Wiesbaden Institute and co-author of the study. Child care gaps should be closed - for example during lunchtime or at long closing times of institutions in the summer.
The study also reveals significant differences between actual, desired, and contractually agreed child care times on a national level. It requires federal standards, says Spieß.
- The gap between the desired childcare offerings and the current situation in Düsseldorf, which falls under North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), is considerable for families with children under three.
- The Federal Institute for Population Research identified that 30.8% of these families in NRW require an additional five weekly hours of childcare.
- In response to this childcare shortage, Katharina Spieß, Director of the Wiesbaden Institute, suggests modifying childcare hours to better accommodate family needs, particularly in light of Germany's current labor market shortage.
- With a significant number of families in Düsseldorf and NRW wishing for longer childcare, addressing this issue could contribute to closing the skills shortage in the region.
- The study conducted by Spieß's team also highlighted notable discrepancies between the actual, desired, and contractually agreed childcare times across Germany, suggesting a need for uniform federal standards.
- Implementing these federal standards could help to eliminate the mismatch between childcare needs and availability in cities like Düsseldorf and throughout North Rhine-Westphalia.
