Single dads work hard to make ends meet

Single dads are still working full-time at rates much higher than single mums.

A full 76 percent of single dads with children under 15 worked 35 hours or more a week in 2016, compared with 87 percent of dads in couple families with children 15 and under. This is a slight drop from 77 percent and 90 percent respectively a decade earlier.

In comparison for 2016, 42 percent of single mums with children under 15 worked 35 hours or more a week, compared with 38 percent of mums in couple families with children 15 and under.

This is increase from 39 percent for single mums and no change for 38 percent of mums in couple families with children 15 and under.

Levels of parental leave taken by dads varies between occupation and industry.

In 2016-17, managers were more likely to use parental leave than those in non-managerial roles; this is true for mums as well as dads.

Dads who work in the Financial and Insurance Services industry are the most likely to take primary parental leave; for mums it is mining.

The industry with the lowest overall take up of primary parental leave among dads was Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; while for mums it was Public Administration and Safety.

A total of 8 percent of dads whose youngest child was aged 0 to 5 years and 9 percent of dads whose youngest child was aged 6 to 14 years are employed part-time. This compares with 61 percent and 50 percent of mums respectively.