WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), about 60% of the total of 1.4 million lone mothers were in employment in 2009. The proportion of the 6.7 million mothers in couple families (married couples and unions of cohabiting partners) who were actively engaged in work was almost as high (58%). As regards the number of hours worked, however, there were substantial differences between lone mothers and mothers in couple families. The percentage of mothers in employment who worked full time was far higher among lone mothers (42%) than among mothers in couple families (27%).
These and more 2009 microcensus core results regarding the situation of lone parents in Germany were announced today by Roderich Egeler, President of the Federal Statistical Office, at a press conference in Berlin. As defined in the above context, lone parents include all mothers and fathers who, without a spouse or cohabiting partner, live together in a household with at least one unmarried child under 18 years of age.
The labour force participation of lone mothers (like that of mothers in couple families) depends largely on the age of their children. While nearly three quarters (73%) of lone mothers with the youngest child aged between 15 and 17 years were actively engaged in work, the labour force participation of lone mothers with children under three years of age (crèche age) amounted to not more than 23%.
Detailed results regarding lone parents are included in the press conference documents which can be accessed at www.destatis.de. Fachserie 1, Reihe 3, which is available for free download in the Publications of the Federal Statistical Office, contains major 2009 microcensus data on women and men, households, families and living arrangements of the population. More detailed data and information, especially in a comparison over time, can be accessed free of charge in the GENESIS-Online database . For further information please call: Bonn Branch Office, Winfried Hammes, tel: +49 611 75 8696,
