Meaningful work at the expense of family life?Recent study on flexibility and careers in the healthcare sector by Prof. Dr. Iris Kesternich

20 January 2026, by Hannes Rathjen

Jobs in the healthcare sector are widely regarded as highly meaningful and, at the same time, form a central pillar of our society. Yet it is precisely here that a problematic discrepancy becomes apparent – one that affects women in particular. A recent study by Prof. Dr. Iris Kesternich (HCHE/University of Hamburg) and Thimo De Schouwer (KU Leuven, Belgium) examined the Dutch labor market. The findings are clear: meaningfulness and occupational flexibility are among the most important criteria for employees when choosing a profession. Women rate both aspects significantly higher than men.

Why the healthcare sector poses a dilemma especially for women
Despite these preferences, the desire for flexibility is scarcely reflected in the professions women actually choose. This is particularly evident in the healthcare sector: it is by far one of the most frequently chosen fields of employment among women, yet it offers comparatively little temporal and organizational flexibility. At the same time, many employees strongly identify with the societal importance of their work.

In the long run, this combination can be problematic. When high expectations regarding meaningfulness and work – life balance are not met on a sustained basis, the risk of dissatisfaction, overload, and ultimately a shift into other professions increases.

A structural problem with far-reaching consequences
Against the backdrop of a growing shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector, this development is alarming. Moreover, the study results from the Netherlands can largely be transferred to the German labor market. Without structural improvements in working hours, flexibility models, and the reconciliation of work and family life, a serious misalignment threatens to emerge – affecting both employees and the system as a whole.

Read the full press release on the study here (in German). The paper "Work Meaning an the Flexibility Puzzle" by Prof. Dr. Iris Kesternich and Thimo de Schouwer can be found here.