Next Steps finds financial pressures are barrier to parenthood

New findings from Next Steps show that while one in two of your generation would definitely like to start a family in the future, only one in four are currently trying to conceive.  

Not feeling ready was the most common reason for either putting off starting a family or not trying for more kids. However, concerns about money were also an important factor in people’s family planning decisions. 

What we asked you  

In the Age 32 Survey, we asked you whether you had children. We also asked if you wanted to have children – either more or your first – in the future. For those of you who said you would like children but weren’t currently trying, we asked you why this was. You were able to choose more than one reason from a list of options.  

What the researchers found 

Researchers from UCL found that wanting children but not currently trying for them is a common experience for people of your generation.  

At age 32, more than half of you (54%) had kids, and over a quarter of you in this group (27%) told us you hoped to have more.  

Of those who didn’t have children already, half said they definitely wanted them in the future while just over one in 10 were certain parenthood was not for them.  

But among all those who hoped to start or expand their family, only one in four were currently trying for a child. The most common reasons for not trying to conceive were not feeling ready (46%), followed by financial considerations (28%), not having a suitable partner (24%), and work or study (22%). A quarter of those who said they didn’t feel ready also gave finances and work as reasons for delaying.  

Why this research matters 

The information you’ve shared about your lives is improving our understanding of why your generation is postponing having children longer than previous generations.   

Lead author, Dr Alina Pelikh, said: “While parents will naturally have many reasons for deciding on the timing and spacing of their children, it is likely that current cost-of-living pressures, with rising housing and childcare expenses, are also shaping the environment in which this group is making fertility decisions. 

“At age 32, many respondents in our study may still intend to have children, just later than previous generations. Our findings provide evidence that financial and employment constraints are viewed by many as major challenges and key reasons for postponing parenthood. This is of particular interest given that easing the financial burden of childcare is a priority for policymakers across the political spectrum.” 

Read the full research report

Fertility intentions and postponed parenthood: initial findings from Next Steps at age 32, by Alina Pelikh and Alice Goisis, was published by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies. 

In the press

These findings were covered in the Independent, Daily Mail and The National among others.