Mothers in the Labor Force, by Age of Child: 1975–2006
Historically, a larger percentage of mothers with children aged 6-17 years have been in the labor force than mothers with children under 6 years of age. Labor force participation among both groups has increased dramatically since 1975 and peaked in 2000. The percentage of mothers in the work force has remained relatively stable since 2000, with 76.7 percent of mothers with children aged 6-17 years and 63.5 percent of mothers with children under 6 years of age in the work force in 2006. The gap between the percentage of mothers in the labor force with 6- to 17-year-old children and those with children under 6 has not changed substantially since 1975.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment characteristics of families in 2006 (USDL 07-0673). Washington, DC: The Department; May 2007. [Table 5] http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/famee.pdf, accessed 5/21/07.
