Socio-Economic Potential of Young Women with Minor Children and Prospects for Its Use in Labor Activities

Young women, particularly those with young children, constitute a contradictory social category. This is attributable to the combination of two types of activities they perform: labor and family/household activities associated with the birth and upbringing of children. Both types of activities are significant not only for the women themselves but also for the state and its economy. The aim of the study is to analyze the socio-economic potential of young women with minor children, along with the possibilities and desires for its usage. The structure of this potential encompasses components such as qualification, informational-innovative, economic (material), personal, and social. Particular attention is paid to these components, as they all exert influence on the motivation of young women to engage in labor activities. In this context, a survey was conducted among 510 women aged 18 to 35 years, who have minor children and live in Volgograd and the cities of the Volgograd region. It is emphasized that young mothers possess robust qualification and personal potential, which renders them attractive to employers. Low financial potential motivates them to return to work or use new forms of employment.