1.1. Paid work, a source of stress and satisfaction

Given that 74% of men and 68% of women in France are in employment, the majority of 20- to 65-year-olds confront the challenges of combining work and private life. Some remain out of the workforce or leave their jobs for family reasons [2]. For example, 0.4% of men and 6% of women report being ‘homemakers’ or on full-time parental leave. For mothers with children under age 3, the share is slightly higher (9%) but remains low compared to other European countries.

For people in employment, it may be difficult to combine multiple roles [3]. Work-related stress or fatigue may spill over into private life (Figure 1): 78% of men and 85% of women aged 20–65 report that their personal life is sometimes, often, or always affected by work-related strain. A smaller share (52% of men and 54% of women) report that time spent at work prevents them from spending as much time as they would like with their partner or child(ren).

Conversely, family demands may also disrupt working life, although such situations are less common: 27% of men and 38% of women report sometimes, often, or always finding it difficult to concentrate at work due to fatigue generated by family responsibilities, and 20% and 22%, respectively, report that family concerns prevent them from spending as much time at work as they should. Women report more strain-­related issues than men, but not more difficulties linked to a lack of time. This may be due partly to the larger share of women in part-time work (23% of working women aged 20–65 vs. 5% of men), which has a certain protective effect, as we will see below.

Reconciling work and family life is not only a source of stress. The two can be mutually enriching. For a large majority of women and men (80% and 78%, respectively), the pleasures of private life help them to work better. Likewise, 66% of women and 58% of men report that their work gives them fulfilment and helps them to ‘enjoy family life’. Overall, women express difficulties with the work-life balance slightly more frequently than men, but their work contributes more strongly to their appreciation of private life.

1.2. Having young children or caring for a relative make the work-life balance more difficult

The quality of the work-life balance can be summarized by means of a composite indicator that measures the intensity of perceived difficulties (Box 1 and Online Appendix³). Women, people aged 30–49, and the most highly educated are slightly over-represented among the 20% of people who experience the greatest difficulties balancing work and private life. However, family structure and employment characteristics are the main contributing factors.

Reconciling work and private life is more difficult when children are present in the household (Figure 2). All other things being equal, childless individuals—whether single or in a couple—are much less likely than parents to report a poor work-life balance, and lone mothers experience more difficulties than mothers with a partner. Family responsibilities are greater for parents of young children, who demand increased energy and attention.

The survey also enabled us to measure the quality of the work-life balance among individuals who care for a disabled or elderly dependent relative. In our sample, 15% of the 20- to 65-year-olds in employment reported caring for a relative at least once a week. These caregivers more often reported a very poor work-life balance (probability of 26% vs. 21% for non-caregivers), women more so than men (29% and 24%).

1.3. The decisive role of working conditions

The subjective perception of the work-life balance is even more strongly linked to employment conditions (Figures 3 and 4 and Online Appendix). The self-employed (men in particular), farmers, and, to a lesser extent, artisans, traders, and business owners most often experience a very poor work-life balance. Among the most highly qualified employees (higher-level and intermediate occupations), difficulties are more frequent among women.

The gender differences are linked mainly to disparities in working conditions for men and women in comparable occupational categories. For example, working hours are a key factor affecting the perceived quality of the work-life balance. For given sociodemographic and characteristics and other working conditions, long working hours (40–44 hours or 45+ hours per week) or non-standard schedules (weekends, nights, early mornings, or evenings) make it more difficult to reconcile work and private life. Likewise, the work-life balance is poor when workloads are heavy, when work spills over into leisure time or when the journey to work takes 1 hour or more (see Online Appendix). Conversely, the balance is better for those who can choose their own work schedule, doubtless thanks to their greater freedom to deal with unplanned family or personal obligations. Likewise, working from home for 1 or 2 days per week improves the work-life balance, although its perceived quality tends to be poorer when the weekly share of remote working is greater.

1.4. Poor work-life balance is associated with poor health

Difficulties in reconciling work and family life are associated with poorer health [4]. For given sociodemographic, family, and occupational characteristics, people with a very poor work-life balance are 3 times more likely to report poor or very poor general health than people with a good balance (50% vs. 17%; Figure 5). They are also more likely to have sleep problems and to be at risk of depression. This association may work in two directions: while a poor work-life balance may have a negative impact on health, poor health may also make a good work-life balance more difficult to achieve.

1.5. With poor work-life balance, a desire for occupational mobility but no questioning of fertility intentions

People reporting a poor work-life balance more frequently plan to look for a new job (new position, new company, or new occupation) within 3 years than those with no work-life balance problems (Figure 5). However, among people aged under 50, men and women alike, and whatever the number of children, for given sociodemographic, family, and employment characteristics, there is no clear link between the quality of the work-life balance and intentions to have a child within 3 years. It would thus appear that people with a poor balance tend to look for better working conditions as a means to improve the situation rather than forgoing their childbearing plans, over the short term at least. The second survey wave, scheduled for 2027, will enable us to compare these intentions with realizations and to see how people who reported a poor work-life balance have responded to these problems, be it by leaving the labour force, finding a new job, or obtaining new working conditions.