Perceptions of employer family support and reproductive intentions among university students: the search for a relationship

This study examines university students’ reproductive intentions and their relationship with perceptions of employer family support policies. Its relevance stems from current demographic challenges such as declining birth rates and population aging, along with the need to implement state initiatives aimed at supporting families. Students are considered a key group whose reproductive decisions will determine future demographic trends over the next few decades. Based on sociological survey data (2024; Northwestern, Siberian, and Ural Federal Districts; n=2550), it was found that 16% of students plan to have three or more children, while expecting employers to provide comprehensive family support measures. A statistically significant association was found between reproductive intentions and demand for employer-provided family support. Two possible explanations for this relationship are proposed: traditional (corporate support as a condition for realizing existing intentions — i.e., having the number of children they plan for) and innovative (employer measures as a factor that may shift intentions toward larger family sizes). The findings emphasize the need to enhance young people’s awareness of employer family support initiatives through educational campaigns, institutionalization of corporate social responsibility ratings, and fostering collaboration among government, universities and employers. This research contributes to the development of demographic policies aimed at bridging the gap between reproductive intentions and the opportunities to realize them.