Number of mothers entering the workforce decreases - Trends - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Camping Magazine, May, 2002

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000 55 percent of mothers with children under one year old were working or looking for work, which shows a decrease from the 1998 percentage of 60 percent. This is the first decrease in the labor force participation rate for mothers since 1976. Also the number of women who worked during their first pregnancy has leveled off for the first time since 1961.

Department of Labor statistics show the number of working, married women with children under three has decreased from an average of 4 million in 1999 to 3.9 million in 2000.