The demographic agenda in contemporary Russia is focused on supporting families with children. The objective of ensuring population reproduction is closely linked to reproductive behavior characterized by a predominantly low-fertility model. The realization of reproductive intentions, given the high standards of child-rearing quality, is rationally constrained by the available resources of the family. As a social institution, the family primarily determines the balance between its economic and reproductive functions based on its own capacities. Drawing on a body of Russian studies, we substantiate the role of competencies as a factor in the efficient use of household resources and highlight the specific patterns in the distribution of roles and responsibilities between spouses. Adopting a competency-based approach, the study analyzes families’ needs for various types of skills required to maintain a sustainable family lifestyle and ensure effective household functioning. These skills relate primarily to household management, financial planning, child-rearing, time allocation, and the reconciliation of professional and family duties. The demand for competencies associated with family and child-oriented lifestyles varies by gender, marital status, and number of children. It is found that large families experience a high unmet need for competencies, while the supply of adult training courses remains constrained by limited availability and high costs. The article concludes by identifying possible avenues for developing competencies essential for a family and child-oriented lifestyle
Keywords
number of children, work-family balance, resource availability, family, competency-based approach