ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of recent socio-demographic trends and dominant trends in female employment. The objective of European employment strategy launched during the late 1990s is primarily to increase overall employment, and especially that of women and of older workers. Such a strategy draws attention to the reconciliation of work and family life and to the organisation of social care in the member states. The organisation of care plays a decisive role for reconciliation of work and family in the member states. All four patterns are to some extent being challenged by demographic changes, restructuring of welfare states and increased employment among women. In contrast to southern Europe, in the Scandinavian countries social care is publicly provided and financed. Public childcare coupled with parental leave insurance constitute two important aspects of Swedish family policy introduced in the 1970s as a way of enabling parents to reconcile work and family life.
