Moms, Work and the Pandemic

Around 10 million U.S. mothers living with their own school-age children were not actively working in January — 1.4 million more than during the same month last year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

The pandemic has had a devastating effect on employment overall but especially on mothers’ paid labor. The 10 million not working accounted for over one-third of all mothers living with school-age children in the United States, according to the Current Population Survey.

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Last spring, between March and April, some 3.5 million mothers living with school-age children left active work — either shifting into paid or unpaid leave, losing their job, or exiting the labor market all together.

Almost 1-in-2 (45%) mothers of school-age children were not actively working last April.

Continue reading to learn more about:

• How did we get here?
• V-shaped employment for moms
• Mothers living alone or with other working-age adults
• Race and ethnicity
• Gender inequality indicators post-pandemic