Increasing numbers of care facilities are permit adult family members to maintain full-time employment, according to Family Minister Plakolm.
In a joint press conference, Family Minister Claudia Plakolm and Regina Fuchs, Director of the Population Department of Statistics Austria, presented the annual report on the situation of children's education and care for the 2024/25 academic year.
The report shows progress in expanding and improving care options, according to Minister Plakolm. Around 200,800 children under the age of 5 are currently being cared for in facilities that allow parents to work full-time, a number that has increased by 4,500 since the last report. The attendance rate for children under 3 is also on the rise.
Minister Plakolm emphasized the need to respect the work preferences of parents and encouraged more people without childcare or family obligations to work full-time. She stated that 15% of mothers with children under 6 would like to work more hours. However, 68% of women prefer to take care of their children themselves, as mentioned by the Family Minister.
The Family Minister acknowledged regional differences in care options and the need for improvement. She emphasized her goal to continue expanding and improving care options so that every family can choose their own path.
In addition, Claudia Plakolm explained that over 94% of 3 to 5-year-olds attend an elementary educational institution. She stated that family is where generations care for each other, and politics should support families with children in their individual challenges and life situations.
The results of the elementary school statistics for the 2025/26 school year are not yet available, as they are usually presented several months after the school year, often late 2026 or early 2027.
Photos from the press conference can be retrieved free of charge via the Federal Chancellery's Photo Service.
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