A study found that American mothers tend to follow one of five patterns when it comes to employment.
Group | Percent | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 36%36 | Mothers in this group follow a pattern of steady full-time employment through their prime child-rearing years. |
| Not working for pay | 21%21 | Mothers in this group are long-term disconnected from paid work. |
| Early return | 15%15 | Mothers in this group spend time away from paid work when their children are young, then start working for pay roughly when the first child is entering kindergarten. |
| Late return | 14%14 | Mothers in this group spend time away from paid work when their children are young, then typically enter paid work around the time their first child is entering junior high. |
| Part-time | 13%13 | Like the mothers in the full-time group, this group follows a pattern of consistent employment, but at fewer average hours per week. |
