The impact of employment digitalization on parenting strategies

The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative assessment of the number of children and the time spent on childcare among Russians of reproductive age working in non-digital and digital (including remote) employment formats. The data source is the Rosstat sample observation database on the population's use of daily time budgets (N=27,082). The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach to studying the digitalization of employment, the key feature of which is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) at work. According to the All-Russian Classifier of Occupations, digital employment includes: 1) IT specialists; and 2) specialists who actively use ICT in their activities. Statistically significant differences in the average number of children were identified between groups with digital and non-digital employment, between remote and non-remote workers, and between representatives of flexible and other work schedule formats. Hypotheses that the time spent on childcare would differ depending on the level of employment digitalization were also tested. The conducted analysis of variance showed that the fertility rate in the group of workers with digital employment is lower than among those who work without using ICT. The remote work format does not have a statistically significant effect on the number of children; however, the flexibility of the work schedule demonstrates a certain influence: the digitalization of employment positively affects the amount of time devoted to children, both by mothers and fathers. The main conclusions of the study are as follows: the digitalization of job content does not have a direct impact on reproductive behavior; expanding access to remote work formats can positively affect fertility, provided there is flexibility in the work schedule. This aspect should be taken into account when developing corporate social support measures for employees with family responsibilities.