Dads Take a More Active Role in Parenting Thanks to Finland’s Family Leave Reform
In a significant shift in parental dynamics, more fathers in Finland are stepping up to care for their young children, a trend catalyzed by the recent family leave reforms that took effect in August 2022.
Statistics from Kela, the Finnish benefits agency, reveal that between 2022 and 2024, the proportion of parental leave taken by fathers has surged at a pace unseen in prior years. Anneli Miettinen, a research manager at Kela, attributes this uptick directly to the reforms, which ensure that parental leave is now equally divided between both parents. Each parent is allowed to transfer a portion of their leave to the other, fostering a greater shared responsibility for childcare.
The numbers tell a compelling story. From January to September of this year, fathers accounted for over 22 percent of all parental allowance days—an increase of two percentage points compared to the same period last year. Interestingly, the uptake isn’t uniform across the country. While Kela’s data indicate only minor regional differences, the Autonomous Åland Islands stand out; here, fathers utilized more than a quarter of all parental leave days in the first nine months of 2023.
As Finland prepares to celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday—a national flag day held on the second Sunday of November in honor of fathers—this changing landscape of parental leave is especially poignant. President Alexander Stubb will commemorate the occasion by presenting state honors to fathers who have made noteworthy contributions to child-rearing. In a historic first, 48 men will receive the Medal of the White Rose of Finland, First Class with Gold Cross, at a ceremony hosted at the Presidential Palace. This marks a departure from tradition; similar accolades have been bestowed upon mothers on Mother’s Day since 1946.
As we recognize the evolving role of fathers, these reforms and honors reflect a broader societal change, celebrating and encouraging the vital role dads play in nurturing the next generation.