Parental labor through the lens of regional employment: an empirical study of workers with family responsibilities

The study analyzes comprehensively the status of workers with family responsibilities (hereinafter WFR) in the labor market of the Chelyabinsk region, positioning them as a strategic economic resource in the face of Russia’s demographic crisis. The aim of the research is to empirically substantiate the systemic barriers that hinder their full integration into the regional economy. The research hypothesis is that the structural limitations on WFR participation stem from the interplay of gender norms, organizational practices of employers, and insufficient institutional support for balancing professional and family roles. The methodology relies on a longitudinal panel study covering the period from 2018 to 2024, employing descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and linear trend analysis. Data sources include the Federal State Statistics Service, the Russian Monitoring of Economic Conditions, and the territorial statistics of the Chelyabinsk region. The key findings of the study are as follows: The number of WFR in the region totals 580,000 people (21–22 % of the labor force). WFR employment has increased by six percentage points; mothers predominate in this group (83%), with most being married (72.3 %). Unemployment among WFR remains 62 % higher than the average population rate, although there is a declining trend. A profound paradox emerges: WFR are concentrated in sectors with optimal work-family balance conditions (education, healthcare, trade, and services – 56.2 % of all WFR). However, these sectors exhibit the lowest wages (24.3 % below other economic sectors). The findings suggest a need for a paradigm shift in public policy. Instead of viewing them as a vulnerable group, they should be seen as a valuable economic resource. This requires shifting from a charity-based approach to an investment-oriented policy toward WFR, including: re-evaluating wage structures in non-material (social) terms; developing care infrastructure; implementing flexible labor organization models across all economic sectors.