Research on the Effect of “Work-life Balance” on Fertility Intention of Child-bearing Age Population

Abstract

As fertility attitude changes and medical technology advances, the birth rate has dropped and the life expectancy of the elderly has increased, China is experiencing a period of "fewer children and younger age" like other developed countries. At the same time, most of the childbearing age group will participate in the labour market competition and face the problem of work-life balance. Therefore, based on the data of the research group "Population Fertility and Public Services", then established a regression model to explore the impact of "work-life balance" on the childbearing willingness of the childbearing age population, finally found that: the current situation of "work-life balance" is positively related to the fertility willingness, while in the expected difficulty of "work-life balance" (opportunity cost) dimension, the opportunity cost of reemployment and the opportunity cost of career development is negatively related to the fertility willingness. Therefore, in order to improve the fertility willingness of the population of childbearing age, the government should play a practical role in improving the market of child care and strengthening the role of the intergenerational upbringing of families, so as to reduce the parenting pressure of families, especially professional women, and improve the fertility willingness.