Families and employers longitudinal survey
The balance between work and family life is being shaken up by profound economic, social, demographic and political changes. Understanding these transformations requires new data to analyse the tensions between the two spheres, their impact on life courses and the risk factors according to professional and family characteristics.
The new Families and Employers longitudinal survey conducted by INED aims to measure changes in the level of conflict between work and personal life since the early 2000s. It will provide a better understanding of the way in which women and men organise their lives, and what facilitates or complicates the balance between these two spheres. Attention will be paid to the diversity of family and work situations.
The study aims to assess the effects on careers, family trajectories, well-being and health. It will also enable us to assess the role played by changes in company and public policies.
The results will be used to inform public decision-makers, employers and social protection bodies as they develop dedicated policies and support schemes.
Three waves of surveys, spaced three years apart, will take place from 2023 onwards. The employing establishments of the individuals surveyed will also be questioned.
News
The first wave of data collection ended in 2024. Data from the individual component (n=41,233) were made available to the operating group, which comprises 76 researchers and engineers working on 69 research projects. The meetings provided an opportunity to present initial results and discuss how to take account of fashion effects in the analyses. Data collection for the Employers section was completed at the end of 2024, with a 67% participation rate and almost 9,000 questionnaires collected from establishments employing participants in the Individuals section. The data from this second section will be made available to the operating group in July.
Preparations for wave 2 of the survey (2027) are underway. The CCTP for the collection of the Individuals component has been published, with bids due from candidates at the end of June. The wave 2 questionnaire will be presented to the survey’s Scientific Council in July.
The first results of wave 1 are presented in issue 637 of Population&Societies Roméo Fontaine, Ariane Pailhé, Delphine Remillon. (2025). Work-life balance: who faces the most difficulties? Population & Societies, no. 637. https://doi.org/10.3917/popsoc.637.0001
The study is being conducted under the scientific responsibility of three researchers from INED's economic demography unit. It was drawn up with a team of researchers and specialists in the design of statistical surveys. The study has a scientific advisory board and a legal advisor to ensure that the survey runs smoothly.
Scientific director:
- Roméo Fontaine, Research Fellow, INED
- Ariane Pailhé, Research Director, INED
- Delphine Remillon, Research Director, INED
Design and methodological support:
- Paul Cochet, Statistical Engineer
- Marine Bondon, Statistical Engineer
- Géraldine Charrance, Statistical Engineer
- Mathilde Danniel, Research Officer
- Albane Gourdol, Head of Surveys and Polls Department
- Constance Hemmer, Survey Data Production and Analysis Engineer
- Thomas Huet, Survey Data Production and Analysis Engineer
- Julie Lenoir, survey IT specialist
- Thomas Merly-Alpa, former head of the surveys and polls department
- Kamel Nait-Abdellah, survey IT specialist
- Amandine Stephan, survey data production and analysis engineer
Design group :
Milan Bouchet-Valat (Ined), Danièle Boyer (Cnaf), Karine Briard (Dares), Guillemette Buisson (Drees), Amélie Carrère (Paris School of Economics, Institute of Public Policy), François-Xavier Devetter (U. Lille), Marta Dominguez-Folguera (Sciences Po), Jean-Sébastien Eideliman (U. de Paris), Christine Erhel (Cnam, CEET), Bénédicte Galtier (France Stratégie), Hélène Garner (France Stratégie), Mathilde Guergoat-Larivière (U. Lille), Sandrine Juin (UPEC), Anne Lambert (Ined), Malena Lapine (Ined), Jean-Marie Le Goff (University of Geneva), Marie-Clémence Le Pape (U. Lyon 2), Marion Leturcq (Ined), Emmanuelle Nauze-Fichet (Drees), Lidia Panico (Sciences Po and Ined), Emmanuelle Prouet (France Stratégie), Delphine Roy (Paris School of Economics, Institute of Public Policy), Anne Solaz (Ined), Alix Sponton (Ined), Laurent Toulemon (Ined), Léa Toulemon (Paris School of Economics, Institute of Public Policy).
Anne Solaz, Alix Sponton, Maxime Tô, Ariane Pailhé (2026). Fathers have embraced longer and more flexible paternity leave, Population & Societies, n°640, https://doi.org/10.3917/popsoc.640.0001
Roméo Fontaine, Ariane Pailhé, Delphine Remillon. (2025). Work-life balance: who faces the most difficulties? Population & Societies, no. 637. https://doi.org/10.3917/popsoc.637.0001
Fontaine, R., Pailhé, A. and Remillon, D. (2025). Families and Employers Longitudinal Survey (famemp) Measuring New Issues in Work-Life Balance and the Role of Firms. Revue des politiques sociales et familiales, 153(1), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.3917/rpsf.153.0201