Nearly 25% of Moms Staying Home With Their Children

A new survey from Motherly found nearly a quarter of U.S. mothers say they are stay-at-home moms. This is up from 15% in 2022. The increase in stay-at-home moms means that about 9% of mothers have left the workforce in the last year.

Why Did They Leave?

The expenses of childcare and the lack of flexibility in the workplace helped many moms decide to stay home. Most respondents said they pay at least $1,000 monthly in childcare, while many pay over $2,000. To accommodate the costs, a mother needs higher wages just to pay for childcare. Job satisfaction is generally lower for women compared to men.

But the biggest factor women cited for staying home was to be with their children. 

Future Work?

Almost half of the mothers surveyed (45%) said affordable childcare would be necessary if the mom wished to work in the future. Additionally, almost two-thirds (62%) said they would need work flexibility to return to the workforce.

Working Mothers

Against mainstream news, many of the over 9,000 women who answered Motherly’s survey want to spend time at home with children. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t also want a job outside the home. The reasons people choose full-time parenting over other structures are complicated, considering money, available childcare, specific children’s needs, and what kinds of work are available. Often, mothers start their own home-based businesses at this time.

Government Stance

States vary in their outlook toward mothers. The state does not mandate parental leave, work hours are often long, and doesn’t provide free or subsidized countrywide childcare, as exists in many other countries. Many states, including Missouri, prefer to pay less in taxes and take care of their own families. Supply and demand drive businesses. If enough mothers complained about childcare and flexible hours, perhaps businesses would listen. Currently, that does not seem to be an issue locally.

However, it is good to hear of mothers wanting to stay home to spend time with their children and to make a lasting impression on them.