Family - Desire and reality for daycare times in Rhineland-Palatinate
Between the wishes of parents and childcare offerings in Kindergarten (Kitas) in Rhineland-Palatinate, there is a large gap. The Federal Institute for Population Research has calculated: For 33.7% of all families with children under three years old in Rhineland-Palatinate, there is an additional childcare need of at least five weekly hours. For families with children over three years old, even 46.7% in Rhinland-Palatinate wish for longer childcare.
The demand and supply are further apart in Rhineland-Palatinate than on average in Germany. Nationwide, 29% of all families with children under three years old in Germany have an additional childcare need of at least five weekly hours. For families with children over three years old, 37% wish for longer childcare.
Missing match not good for labor shortage
This missing match, 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 due to the labor shortage in Germany.
"Many parents cannot find an educational and childcare place for their child that meets their desired requirements under the current conditions," summarizes Katharina Spieß, Director of the Institute and co-author of the study. Childcare gaps should be closed - for example during lunchtime or at long closing times of institutions in the summer.
The study also shows that there are significant differences between actual, desired, and contractually agreed childcare times on a national level. It requires nationwide standards, says Spieß.
- In order to address the significant childcare shortage in Rhineland-Palatinate, consideration should be given to expanding Kindergarten (Kita) offerings to better align with family needs, as suggested by the Federal Institute for Population Research in Wiesbaden.
- The demand for longer childcare hours in Kindergarten (Kita) exceeds the available supply in Rhineland-Palatinate for both families with children under and over three years old, which could impact labor force participation.
- The Director of the Federal Institute for Population Research, Katharina Spieß, emphasizes that closing childcare gaps, such as during lunchtime or considerable summer closures, could help families in Rhineland-Palatinate find suitable educational and childcare arrangements.
- A recent study conducted by the Federal Institute for Population Research highlights substantial disparities between the actual, desired, and agreed-upon childcare times across Germany, suggesting the need for consistent national standards to bridge these gaps.
- Addressing the skills shortage in Germany may benefit from enhancing the childcare offer in Kindergarten (Kita) to accommodate families' requirements, ensuring a well-balanced work-life harmony and a more capable workforce for the future.
