A recent study by the Bertelsmann Foundation reveals a limited emphasis on family-friendly practices within German job advertisements. The analysis of approximately eight million job postings from 2024 indicates that while a significant portion (37.8%) of ads offer some degree of control over working hours and their structuring, explicit mentions of family-friendly provisions are far less common, appearing in only 16.4% of cases.
The study further details that only 12% of employers actively state a commitment to work-life balance and a mere 2.7% offer support for childcare. Flexible working arrangements, including the ability to choose weekly working hours, are present in 14% of advertisements, with 25% allowing for flexible distribution of working hours within the week.
Job postings also frequently communicate expectations to potential employees. Approximately 18% of listings request a high degree of “flexibility” from applicants and 12% require shift work. Nearly 8% stipulate willingness to travel, while 3.6% anticipate availability outside of standard hours, such as weekend work or on-call duties.
Significant disparities emerge when comparing job ads in traditionally female-dominated professions versus those typically held by men. Offers relating to the choice of working hours are considerably more prevalent in postings for roles like geriatric care specialists or social workers (24%) compared to those in male-dominated fields (7%). Similar trends are observed regarding mentions of work-life balance and predictable working schedules.
Conversely, expectations outlined in job advertisements in male-dominated professions can pose greater challenges for applicants seeking to balance family and career commitments. Postings in these sectors are more likely to demand shift work or on-call availability (18.6%) compared to female-dominated professions (13.9%). A similar difference exists regarding expectations for travel or relocation.
The data is based on a comprehensive analysis of job advertisements tracked by the Bertelsmann Foundation’s Jobmonitor, with trend comparisons drawn from data spanning back to 2018.
