Momumental reference
U.S. motherhood, work & caregiving statistics
A considered collection of current national figures for writers, researchers, gift guides and anyone trying to understand the shape of modern family life.
Last updated October 15, 2026. Sources are linked with every statistic.
The context
The work of caring is real work.
Motherhood is lived differently in every home. These figures cannot tell the whole story, but they can make the invisible parts easier to name: paid work, practical care, the hours that overlap, and the families holding it all together.
This page uses national U.S. sources. Figures are reported as published and should be read with each source’s definitions and survey methods in mind.
At a glance
Seven citable facts about motherhood and care
32.9m
U.S. families had children under 18 in 2025.
That was nearly two-fifths of all U.S. families, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 202573.9%
Mothers with children under 18 were in the labor force in 2025.
“In the labor force” means working or actively looking for work. The comparable rate for fathers was 93.7%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 202568.0%
Mothers whose youngest child was under 6 were in the labor force in 2025.
For mothers whose youngest child was 6 to 17, the rate was 78.2%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 202579%
Employed mothers worked full time in 2025.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines full time here as usually working 35 hours or more per week. The comparable share for employed fathers was 95%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20252.8 hrs
Women in homes with a child under 6 spent this much time each day on primary childcare in 2025.
Primary childcare is care given as the main activity. The equivalent figure for men in those homes was 1.7 hours per day.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 20255.1 hrs
Adults in homes with a child under 13 provided this much secondary childcare on an average day in 2025.
Secondary childcare is care happening while an adult is doing something else, such as household tasks or leisure.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 202579%
U.S. children lived with at least one parent employed year round and full time in 2023.
In the same year, that was true for 53% of children living in families maintained by a single mother.
Source: America’s Children, 2025 report using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics dataReading the numbers
The hours overlap.
These measures describe different things, so they should not be added together. But they do show why care can feel so full: paid work, hands-on childcare, and the responsibility that continues while other tasks are happening often share the same day.
For gift-givers, family members and workplaces, the useful takeaway is not a single number. It is the reminder that care is practical as well as emotional. Small gestures that make an ordinary day easier, softer or more seen can matter.
Read our guide to thoughtful new mom giftsMethodology & sources
Made to be useful, and easy to check.
This reference page summarises published U.S. national data. Each statistic links to its original source. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports annual averages from the Current Population Survey and the American Time Use Survey. America’s Children is a federal statistical report that compiles indicators from national data sources.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Characteristics of Families, 2025, released April 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 2025 Results, released June 25, 2026.
- America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2025, Secure Parental Employment, reporting 2023 data.
Cite this page: Momumental. “U.S. Motherhood, Work & Caregiving Statistics.” Updated October 15, 2026, https://momumental.co/motherhood-statistics. Accessed [date].
We refresh this page when a key source releases materially newer data. Last checked October 15, 2026.