Population characteristics

WORKING MOTHERS AND CHILD CARE

In 2004, 70.4 percent of women with children under 18 years of age were in the labor force (either employed or looking for work). Of mothers with preschool-aged children (younger than 6 years), 61.8 percent were in the labor force and over 57 percent were actually employed. Of women with children ages 6 to 17 years, 77.3 percent were in the labor force and almost 74 percent were employed. Employed mothers of children in the older age group were more likely to work full time than mothers of children under 6 years of age (76.7 versus 69.8 percent). Married mothers with a present spouse were less likely than mothers in other marital situations to be in the labor force (67.8 versus 77.1 percent); however, almost all married women in the labor force were employed, while women in other situations were more likely to be looking for work. The unemployment rate among married mothers was 3.7 percent, compared to a rate of 9.7 percent among mothers of other marital statuses.

Among children under age 5 with employed mothers, child care arrangements varied by family income. In 2002, children with family incomes of less than 200 percent of the Federal poverty level (FPL) were most likely to be in relative or parent/other care, while children with family incomes of 200 percent FPL or more were most likely to be in center-based care. Family child care and nanny/babysitter care were the least common types of care among children of both income groups, although each was more common among children with higher family incomes.

> Line Chart: Mothers in the Work Force: 1975-2004

> Bar Chart: Child Care Arrangements for Children Under Age 5 with Employed Mothers, by Family Income: 2002