What It Means
A working parent is a mother or father who has a paid job while raising children, whether full time, part time or self-employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks working parents each year in its Employment Characteristics of Families report, which breaks figures out by the age of the youngest childBirth orderA child's position among siblings (firstborn, middle, youngest or only), and the popular theory that this position shapes personality. See more. In 2025, 93.7% of fathers with children under 18 were in the labor force, meaning working or looking for work.
Try It: Compare Working Mothers and Fathers by Child's Age
BLS figures for 2025. Pick a parent and the youngest child's age.
Labor force means working or looking for work. Source: BLS, Employment Characteristics of Families, 2025.
How Parents Say It
- "We're both working, so pickup is a relay."
- "I went back to work when she turned one."
- "Can we move the meeting? Daycare closes at six."
The Breakdown
By youngest child's age, per the BLS (2025)
| Youngest child | Mothers in the labor force | Employed mothers working full time | Fathers in the labor force | Employed fathers working full time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | 68.0% | 77% | 95.3% | 96% |
| 6 to 17 | 78.2% | 80% | 92.5% | 95% |
Mothers are more likely to be working or looking for work once the youngest child is school age, while fathers' rates stay above 90% at both stages.
Time with young children. The BLS American Time Use Survey reports each summer how many hours a day adults spend caring for household children, by the age of the youngest child, by sex and by whether the adult is employed. Check the latest release before quoting a number.
What each stage tends to ask of a working parent. Buhata's examples, not an official list.
| Stage | Common pressure point |
|---|---|
| Baby and toddlerToddlerA child from 1 to 3 years old, the stage CDC's parenting guidance places between infancy and the preschool years. See more | Child care hours that match the workday, sick daysSick leaveTime off work an employer allows when you're ill, injured or caring for your health, paid or unpaid depending on the employer's policy and state or local law. See more |
| Grade school | The gap between the school bell and the end of work, school holidays |
| Teen | Rides to activities, a check-in plan for after school |
Who to ask. Your employer's human resources office can explain leave and schedule options, and your state's child care assistance office can tell you whether you qualify for help paying for care.
Good to Know
The BLS publishes Employment Characteristics of Families each April and the American Time Use Survey each summer. Figures here are for 2025, released in 2026; check for a newer year before quoting them. Time use figures are averages across many households, so your own hours may look quite different.
FAQ
What percentage of mothers work?
In 2025, per the BLS, 68.0% of mothers whose youngest child was under 6 were in the labor force, and 78.2% when the youngest was 6 to 17.
Do most working mothers work full time?
Yes. In 2025, 77% of employed mothers of children under 6 and 80% of those with children 6 to 17 worked full time, according to the BLS.
How much time do working parents spend on child care?
The BLS American Time Use Survey measures it every year. It finds that employed adults with young children spend less time a day on child care than adults who aren't employed; the latest release on bls.gov has the current hours.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar and Reminders
Put school closures and pickup times on the Calendar in a Household Space in Buhata and set Reminders for the handoffs, so both working adults see who is covering each day.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Dual income household
A household where two adults, usually a couple, both earn income from work, so the budget runs on two paychecks.
- Stay-at-home parent
A parent who stays home to care for the children and run the household instead of working for pay outside the home.
- Work-from-home parent
A parent who does some or all of their paid work from home while also raising children.
- Daycare cost
What families pay a child care center or home daycare, which Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report puts at $332 a week on average.
- After-school program
Supervised care and activities for school-age children in the hours after the school day ends, often with homework help, enrichment, sports or clubs.
- Work-life balance
How your time and energy divide between paid work and the rest of your life, such as family, rest, health and interests.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment Characteristics of Families, 2025" (April 23, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment Characteristics of Families" news release, 2025 results; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "American Time Use Survey, 2025 Results" (June 25, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Economics Daily, "Time spent providing primary care to household children in 2025"
- www.bls.gov/news.release/famee.nr0.htm
- www.bls.gov/news.release/famee.htm
- www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm
- www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/time-spent-providing-primary-care-to-household-children-in-2025.htm
Last updated .