The Surprising Election Issues Working Families Care About Most These concerns come before covering health expenses and college tuition, according to a survey by online parenting community Fatherly.

By Lydia Belanger

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Ariel Skelley

This article orginally published September 23, 2016.

So much hinges on this year's presidential election, but partisan divides and candidate personalities often cloud what's really at stake for families.

That's why Fatherly, a lifestyle website catered toward millennial dads, set out to conduct its 2016 Election Survey of 1,233 parents. Fatherly wanted to learn more about the concerns of young families and what they think our nation's next presidential administration should prioritize. The Democrat/Republican ideological split of the respondents reflected the political leanings of Americans overall.

Related: The Most Innovative Companies for Families Might Surprise You

It turns out that parents are most concerned about whether policies enacted by future leaders will ensure that their children will have a quality education. Their second greatest worry, however, is whether they will be able to maintain work-life balance.

Work-life balance ranks higher than trepidation about whether parents will earn enough money to support their families, afford college tuition or be financially prepared for a health crisis or serious illness, Fatherly found. And the least of their fears is that a family member will be a victim of a terrorist attack.

Related: Check Out This Year's 'Best Places to Work for New Dads'

Office culture and personal convictions are not the only factors that influence work-life balance. Paid time off and affordable daycare options that allow parents to prosper, rather than sacrifice their careers, are both crucial aspects. Family leave and child care policies are on the table in this election, though they receive far less attention than inflammatory comments and dubious ethics surrounding the two major-party nominees.

Only about 20 percent of young parents surveyed said they believe that their kids will grow up to be better off than them, while 44 percent believe their children will be worse off, according to the Fatherly survey.

Lydia Belanger is a former associate editor at Entrepreneur. Follow her on Twitter: @LydiaBelanger.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Did 'Crazy Things' to Retain Employees, From Hot Air Balloon Rides to a Free Bentley: 'We Had No Turnover'

Corcoran sold her brokerage firm, The Corcoran Group, for close to $70 million in 2001.

Leadership

The One Trait That Separates Great Leaders From Everyone Else

Here's why this mindset is an entrepreneur's superpower for leadership excellence.

Business News

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic Pour $23 Million into an AI Training Center for Teachers

The hub will train teachers to use AI for tasks like generating lesson plans.

Growing a Business

How to Turn Summer Travel into More Business and Less Taxes

When you pursue business opportunities in the places you love to visit, you can make your summer profitable and fun.