Lone-Parent Families in Europe

The increase of lone-parent families is a common phenomenon across Europe. Lone parent families have been the focus of extensive research as these families are in a vulnerable position in society. In this chapter we firstly explore the proportion of lone-parent families across the European Union; secondly, the employment patterns of lone parents; and thirdly, we look at the employment rate by education of the lone parent in lone-parent families in the European Union. This study stems from the realization that there is a need to learn more about the situation of lone parents and to characterize their heterogeneity. Low socio-economic status might be connected with low income, work that is low skilled and working during non-standard hours, while a high socio-economic position might be linked with a good income, autonomous work and working time that enables a better work-family interface.