Large difference in employment rates between men and women!
If you compare the employment rates in EU regions, you will notice that the female employment rates still lag behind the male rates in most of the regions.
The EU has set a policy target in this area of halving the gender employment gap from 11.7% in 2019 to 5.8% by 2030.
The green regions shown here are those that have already attained the target.
Source: Eurostat
A bit of number play:
Assuming men work continuously between the ages 20 and 64, and all women do so as well, except for a short time where they do not work at all, then 5% of unemployment means 26.4 months of not working. That’s just over two years of difference in working time in this age range. A reasonable time to stay at home due to pregnancy and baby care in my opinion.
Why are you assuming it should only be women who take time off work due to child care? Sensible countries have equal parental leaves for both parents.
I don’t. But I think pregnant women should not be expected to work.