The economic contribution of stay-at-home parents in Ireland is valued at over €60,000 annually, according to research released this week by Royal London Ireland. The figure, representing the cost of replacing the services a stay-at-home parent provides, has risen by 5.2 percent since 2024, reaching €60,112 in 2026.
The report, now in its tenth year, polled 1,000 adults nationwide and found a significant underestimation of the financial value of full-time parental care and household management. On average, respondents estimated the annual cost at €34,477 – a shortfall of more than €25,000 compared to Royal London Ireland’s calculation.
The study assessed the range of daily tasks performed by stay-at-home parents, including household chores, meal preparation, childcare, and transportation, then determined the cost of hiring professionals to fulfill those roles at current wage rates. This analysis yielded the €60,112 figure.
While less than one in five (18 percent) of those surveyed estimated the cost to exceed €50,000, a gender gap emerged in the responses. Over one in five women (22 percent) accurately assessed the cost at more than €50,000, compared to 14 percent of men.
A substantial portion of respondents – 24 percent – believed the cost of hiring a replacement would fall between €20,000 and €30,000, while another 21 percent placed the cost between €30,000 and €40,000. Six percent estimated the cost to be under €10,000, demonstrating a considerable undervaluation of the role.
Demographic trends also influenced estimations. Men (28 percent), young adults aged 18-24 (29 percent), and those over 55 (29 percent) were most likely to estimate the cost in the €20,000-€30,000 range. Conversely, individuals aged 35-44 were most likely to correctly estimate the financial value at over €50,000.
Karen O’Flaherty, senior propositions executive with Royal London Ireland, noted that an individual’s life stage appears to shape their understanding of the role’s value. “Those who placed the highest value on the work of a stay-at-home parent tend to be in the 35-44 age bracket, which is the group most likely to be raising young children themselves and dealing directly with the practical and financial demands it entails,” she said.
O’Flaherty also highlighted a broader societal disconnect. “The data showed a disconnect between how heavily society depends on parental labour and how little it is recognised. Replacing this work would come at a substantial cost and would require a range of different paid professionals to cover it,” she stated. “These are not occasional responsibilities but essential, daily functions that keep households running.”
The estimated annual cost has increased by approximately 48 percent since the study’s inception in 2015, when the calculated value was €40,560. The latest figure underscores the growing financial implications of unpaid parental labor within Irish households.