December 03, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Labor force participation rate of mothers, 1975-2006

From 1975 to 2000, the labor force participation rate of mothers with children under age 18 rose from 47 to 73 percent.

Labor force participation rate of women by age of youngest child, 1975-2006
[Chart data—TXT]

By 2004, the rate had receded to about 71 percent, where it has remained through 2006.

In general, mothers with older children (6 to 17 years of age, none younger) are more likely to participate in the labor force than mothers with younger children (under 6 years of age).

These data are from the Current Population Survey. For a wide variety of information on women and work, see Women in the Labor Force: A Databook (2007 Edition), BLS Report 1002. 

 

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