Social Trends

The contemporary trend regarding household structures is for more single households and households without children. In 1999 the share of households without children (single and couples) amounted to 52 per cent while the share of households with children was 48 per cent. The average household size was 2.5 (as compared to 2.8 in 1995). Do you expect this trend towards more households without children to be higher or lower in the next years?

Between 1998 and 2000, the employment rates of persons aged 15-64 in the EU and Candidate countries increased by just over 2 per cent. Do you expect this trend (2 per cent every three years) to be higher or lower in the next years?

The increase of the flexibility of labour markets is reflected in the increase of part-time work. In the European Union the number of employees working less than 30 hours per week has increased from 13.3 per cent in 1990 to 16.4 per cent in 1999, thus showing an annual average increase of 2.3 per cent. Do you expect this trend (2.3 per cent increase per year on average) to be higher or lower in the next years?

One per cent of the working population in 2000 was teleworking full-time. A further 4 per cent was teleworking on an accassional basis. The rate of increase is estimated at 10 per cent per year on average. Do you expect this trend (10 per cent increase per year) to be higher or lower in the next years?

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