The basis of this publication is a comprehensive empirical study on the interactions between the labor and maintenance sectors, as well as the compatibility of paid work, profession, and household and family life. The book provides an overview of the historical development, the current state, and future trends in the relationship between paid work and the maintenance economy. The life contexts of private households are depicted using objective background factors of the households, subjective preferences and attitudes of the heads of households, and a comprehensive time budget allocation of household members, differentiated by labor and maintenance sectors. The data is based on a representative household sample from the Federal Republic of Germany. The work and living situations of different household and life cycle types are examined.