A Shift in Caregiving Dynamics
19th November 2024
72% of men are now actively involved in caring responsibilities in the home, new research has found. To mark International Men’s Day, new research from The 30% Club Ireland, supported by Accenture, has highlighted a meaningful shift in caregiving dynamics, with more men now taking on equal or primary roles in family care responsibilities.
According to the survey, 37% of men report sharing caregiving responsibilities equally with their partners, while 35% now handle most of the family care, compared to 44% of women.
Today’s findings come as the 30% Club prepares to release its full Care Report in the new year, set to be unveiled at its Chair and CEO Event on February 27, 2025.
The new research points to the evolving role of men in caregiving, particularly among younger generations.
48% of men aged 18-29 and 33% aged 30-40 report taking on more of the family care while a lesser 28% of men aged 40-50 and 25% of men aged 50-60 say the same. Only 12% of men aged 60-70 handle most of the care responsibilities in the home with 23% saying their spouse or partner does.
Comparably, 42% off women aged between 60-70 admitted to taking on most of the care responsibilities in the home. While these figures may reflect generational differences, with older men less likely to have childcare duties, they also may point to the burden of eldercare being disproportionately carried by women.
As populations age and family sizes shrink, the demands of eldercare are expected to grow, potentially posing an even greater challenge for working men and women than childcare.
The Covid-19 pandemic appears as a potential reason behind the shift in caregiving norms, having triggered workplace changes that have supported greater work-life balance across society.
Gillian Harford, Country Executive of 30% Club Ireland, said:
“The shift in caregiving dynamics among men, especially among younger generations, is incredibly encouraging.
This progress reflects evolving societal norms and the benefits of flexible working arrangements. The pandemic served as a reset for society, allowing men who were previously expected to spend more time in the office than at home, to invest more in family and self-care. Five years on, we must resist slipping back into outdated gender roles. Irish organisations must do more to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive both at work and at home.”
36% of men reported a positive shift in work-life balance post Covid-19, compared to a lesser 31% of women.
Among younger generations, 37% of those aged 18-40 and 40% of those aged 40–60 noted positive improvements post-Covid. In line with these shifts, 57% of men surveyed, reported having a good or very good work-life balance, compared to a lesser 49% of women.
When it comes to flexible working options which may not have been possible pre-Covid, these are certainly seen as a priority for the younger generation now.
60% of men aged 18-29 and 57% of those aged 30-40 express that flexible working is important to their personal and family needs.
When it comes to the older cohort however, a much lesser 35% of men aged 60-70 see the importance of flexible working, pointing to a further generational divide when it comes to perceptions around flexible work practices and work life balance.
Overall, 56% of men and a higher 62% of women feel flexible working is important to achieving a good work life balance.
The uptake of parental leave further points to a gap between generations. Men are still taking a predominantly shorter amount of time than women, with 55% of men taking less than a month compared to 24% of women.
Breaking this down, younger men are taking more leave than other generations, with 35% of men aged 30-40 taking greater than three months parental leave, while just 16% of 50–60-year-olds took that amount of time.
AI in the workplace may present as a positive lever in supporting work-life balance, with three in four (75%) of men saying they expect Generative AI to impact their work-life balance, compared to 74% of women who feel similarly. 46% of men reported increased productivity when balancing caregiving thanks to traditional hybrid tools like Zoom and Teams, with Gen AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot further enhancing productivity for 39% of men, compared to 31% of women.
Paula Neary, Country Chair of 30% Club Ireland and Senior Managing Director within Accenture’s Communications, Media and Technology Client Service Group in Ireland, said: “These findings, which we are delighted to unveil on International Men’s Day, reveal significant progress as men increasingly embrace active roles in family caregiving, especially among younger generations who are benefiting from greater work-life balance.
This shift reflects a strong, emerging commitment to shared responsibility that is transforming homes and workplaces across Ireland and allowing men to engage more fully in family life without stigma.
While there is still work to be done, organisations can play a vital role in fostering flexible, inclusive policies that make this balance accessible for everyone—ultimately helping to bridge the gap in caregiving roles between men and women.”
