Mothers in the Labor Force, 1955–2010

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
Percentage of mothers with children
Year Under 18
years
6 to 17
years
Under 6
years1
1955 27.0 %38.4 %18.2 %
1965 35.0 45.7 25.3
1975 47.4 54.9 39.0
1980 56.6 64.3 46.8
1985 62.1 69.9 53.5
1986 62.8 70.4 54.4
1987 64.7 72.0 56.7
1988 65.1 73.3 56.1
1989 65.7 74.256.7
1990 66.7 74.7 58.2
1991 66.6 74.4 58.4
1992 67.275.9 58.0
1993 67.075.4 57.9
1994 68.4 76.0 60.3
1995 69.7 76.4 62.3
199670.277.262.3
199772.178.165.0
199872.378.465.2
199972.178.564.4
200072.979.065.3
200172.779.464.4
200272.278.664.1
200371.778.762.9
200470.777.562.2
2010 71.3 77.2 64.2
1. May also have older children.
NOTE: 1955 data are for April; 1965 and 1975–1994 data are for March. Data for 1994 and subsequent years are not directly comparable to previous years because of major revisions to the survey.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web: data.bls.gov .

Women in the Labor Force, 1900–2004Labor and EmploymentEmployment Status by Sex, 1970–2005
Labor and Employment
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