Paternity leave in France used by 81% of fathers despite constraints

Paternity leave in France was reformed in July 2021, extending the duration of paid leave from 11 to 25 days. The reform has been successful. According to a new study published in Population & Societies, drawing on data from the 2024 Families and Employers survey*, 81% of fathers used the leave scheme between 2021 and 2023 compared to 75% before the reform. Authors¹ Ariane Pailhé, Anne Solaz, Alix Sponton, and Maxime Tô show that the fathers choosing to take this leave come from different backgrounds. Uptake among self-employed and less-educated fathers is more common than before the reform. However, professional and financial constraints remain the principal obstacle for fathers choosing not to take leave. 

81% of fathers use more than the mandatory week 

More than 4 out of 5 births (81%) between July 2021 and December 2023 resulted in paternity leave being taken beyond the mandatory week. By 2022, 59% of fathers had used all 25 days available, demonstrating the appeal of the reformed scheme. Splitting the leave into parts, which allows it to be spread over several periods, is also gaining popularity: 23% of fathers took advantage of this option in the second half of 2021, compared to 33% in the second half of 2023. This flexibility makes it easier to adapt to family and work commitments, particularly in relation to the summer holidays.

Civil servants and permanent employees most likely to take leave, but self-employed workers catching up

Although the use of leave is increasing, inequalities remain depending on employment status: public and private sector employees on permanent contracts continue to be the most likely to take leave. Self-employed workers, although more likely to take leave than in 2017, still have a lower take-up rate (55% take the full leave entitlement). Fathers on fixed-term contracts and those who were unemployed before the birth also make less use of the scheme, despite a recent increase. The study reveals that educational level also plays a role: fathers with a high school diploma now use the scheme at the same rate as those with a higher education degree, while usage is back up among those without a high school diploma after a period of decline between 2013 and 2021.

Workload and loss of income: the main obstacles to taking leave

The reasons cited for not taking leave have changed. While 7% of all fathers said in 2023 that they did not want to take leave (compared to 9% in 2012), professional constraints, particularly excessive workload, are now cited more frequently. Financial reasons also carry more weight: 8.5% of fathers of children born between July 2021 and December 2023 cite this obstacle, a figure that may have been amplified by inflation. These obstacles vary according type of employment: self-employed fathers tend to cite their workload, while fathers on short-term contracts, unemployed fathers, and fathers with few qualifications more often cite financial arguments and the complexity of administrative procedures.

8% of fathers now take their leave after the mother returns to work

Since the reform, more fathers are taking their leave after the mother returns to work. This practice now applies to 8% of births, compared with only 2% before 2021. However, it remains more common for first and second births (10% and 14%, respectively) than for third births (4%), mainly due to longer maternity leave and more frequent career interruptions for mothers.

Towards a normalisation of paternity leave?

The study confirms that paternity leave has become a social norm for fathers in France. Media coverage of the 2021 reform has helped to raise awareness of the scheme and increase its acceptance in the workplace. This development should be understood in the broader context of French family policy. In effect, a new 1- to 2-month birth leave per parent, voted as part of the Social Security Financing Act for 2026, will come into force in July 2026, and this additional measure could further encourage fathers’ involvement in family life.

¹Authors: Ariane Pailhé (INED), Anne Solaz (INED), Alix Sponton (CRESPPA | INED | CRIS), Maxime Tô (IPP | PSE | CREST | IFS)