Majority of Working Parents Balance Jobs and Childcare Daily
WHO:
Fast Company - Pew Research Center surveyed 2,242 working parents.
AP - Alexandra Olson and Claire Savage are the business writers for the article.
WHAT:
Fast Company - In 2025, 56% of moms with bachelor degrees and 69% of mothers with postgraduate degrees worked full time, an increase from 50% and 59% in 2000, respectively.
Fast Company - Among full-time working mothers, 63% say they do most of the chores, while only 25% of working fathers agree that moms do most of it.
Fast Company - About 52% of full-time working mothers and 38% of fathers said they felt they couldn't give 100% at work mainly because of juggling work and family responsibilities.
Fast Company - About 67% of mothers said they felt they couldn't give 100% at home, compared to 50% of fathers.
Fast Company - About 49% of parents said having both parents work full-time had a positive impact on their children's well-being.
Fast Company - 70% of full-time working parents juggle work and child duties simultaneously.
Fast Company - 52% of households have both the mother and father working full time.
Fast Company - 89% of fathers and 59% of mothers with children under 18 work full time.
Fast Company - 92% of full-time working parents are upset by missing their children's activities due to work.
Fast Company - 58% of parents have a hard time finding time to exercise.
Fast Company - 52% of parents say moms do most of the chores.
Fast Company - 45% of parents say having kids makes it harder to advance at work.
Fast Company - 83% of families with two full-time working parents say the arrangement has financial benefits.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The study analyzed work arrangements of mothers and fathers with children under 18 in the United States.
WHEN:
Fast Company - The Pew Research Center study surveyed parents between March 2-15.
Fast Company - In 2025, 56% of moms with bachelor degrees and 69% of mothers with postgraduate degrees worked full time.
Fast Company - In 2000, 50% of moms with bachelor degrees and 59% of mothers with postgraduate degrees worked full time.
WHY:
Fast Company - The increase in full-time working parents is driven largely by mothers who have bachelor’s or postgraduate degrees.
Fast Company - The "motherhood penalty" is a factor in the persistent wage gap between men and women.
HOW:
Fast Company - The study found that moms often carry more of the mental load in balancing family needs with work demands.
(UPDATED June 19, 2026 23:19 UTC)
In 2025, 56% of moms with bachelor degrees and 69% of mothers with postgraduate degrees were working full time, showing a significant increase from 2000. Among full-time working mothers, 63% reported doing most of the household chores, while only 25% of working fathers agreed with that assessment. Additionally, about 52% of full-time working mothers and 38% of fathers felt they couldn't give their all at work due to balancing family responsibilities, with 67% of mothers feeling they couldn't give 100% at home compared to 50% of fathers.
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(UPDATED June 19, 2026 21:21 UTC)
A recent Pew Research Center survey of 2,242 working parents reveals that 70% of full-time working parents are juggling their jobs while managing child duties, with 92% expressing frustration over missing their children's activities due to work commitments. The study, which focused on families in the United States, highlights that 52% of households have both parents working full time, and 83% of these families see financial benefits from this arrangement. Additionally, the findings indicate that mothers often bear a heavier mental load in balancing family responsibilities, contributing to the ongoing wage gap between men and women.