Why time for parents in Switzerland is becoming a luxury good
Balancing family and career remains a major challenge for many people in Switzerland. Recent research from the University of Bern shows that time is now considered the most valuable asset for parents. Various social and economic factors play a decisive role in this.
A central point is the high cost of supplementary childcare. In Switzerland, daycare fees are very high by international standards. This financial burden leads many parents to decide against a second child or forces them to significantly reduce their working hours, which in turn makes career planning more difficult.
Additionally, research points to the slow progress of gender equality. Although the understanding of roles has changed in recent years, women in Switzerland still carry a larger share of childcare responsibilities. This often leads to a double burden, which causes the desire for a family to collide with everyday professional life.
These framework conditions contribute to many couples postponing their desire to have children. The average age of parents at the birth of their first child is rising continuously. Experts emphasize that political and social solutions are needed to better support parents in this situation and to reduce the time pressure in everyday life.