US Mothers – Spending more time in the labor force than in the past, but also more time on child care

In 2016, moms spent about 25 hours a week on paid work, compared with nine hours in 1965. At the same time, they spent 14 hours a week on child care, up from 10 hours a week in 1965. (Dads, too, are spending more time in child care than they were a half-century ago.)

Seven-in-ten moms with kids younger than 18 were in the labor force in 2015, up from 47% in 1975. In fact, mothers are the primary breadwinners in four-in-ten U.S. families. In nearly half (46%) of households with a mother and father, both parents are employed full time, up from 31% in 1970.

Working mothers (60%) are somewhat more likely than fathers (52%) to say balancing work and family is difficult. While a majority of parents from dual, full-time working households say certain household responsibilities are shared equally, about half (54%) say the mother does more when it comes to managing children’s schedules and activities.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at 7 facts about U.S. mothers | Pew Research Center