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WORKING MOTHERS AND THE NEED FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau May 1967 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WOMEN'S BUREAU WASHINGTON. D.C. 20210 WORKING MOTHERS AND THE NEED FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES There were nearly 27 million working women 14 years of age and over in the United States in March 1966, l/ and their number is rising steadily. Among these workers were 9*9 million mothers with children under 18 years of age- Nearly 2.1 million of these mothers had children under 3 years aof age; 1.7 million had children 3 to 5 years of age (none under 3); n d almost 6.1 million had children 6 to 17 years of age (none under 6). Almost 1.5 million (15 percent) of the working mothers were nonwhite. The number of working mothers has increased more than sixfold since 19*K), when there were 1.5 million and has more than doubled since 1950, when there were k.6 million. The employment of mothers, like the employment of all women, is expected to continue to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has conservatively estimated that the number of working mothers 20 to Wyears of age with preschool children will increase to 5*3 million by 1980. To ascertain how the children of working mothers are cared for, in February 1965 the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health, 1 Education, and Welfare, and the Women s Bureau cosponsored a national survey of the child care arrangements made by these mothers. The survey was limited to the 6.1 million mothers who worked 27 weeks or more in 1964, either full time or part time, and who had at least one child under Ik years of age living at home. These mothers had 12.3 million children under 14 years of a g e — 3 * 8 million, under 6 years; 6.1 million, 6 to 11 years; and 2.k million, 12 and 13 years. The survey disclosed that nearly half (46 percent) of these children were cared for in their own homes by their fathers or other relatives, or by babysitters or housekeepers; 28 percent were cared for by their mothers, who either worked only during their children's school hours or took care of them while working; 18 percent were cared for away ftrcm home (only 2 percent in group care); and 8 percent looked after themselves. Less than 4 percent of the children who looked after themselves were under 6 years of age, and nearly half were 12 and 13 years of age. Too many children have care which at best would be classified as questionable, and all too frequently would be considered completely inadequate. l/ This is the latest date for which data are available on the of workers. marital status President Johnson, in a recent message to Congress, stated: Ignorance, ill health, personality disorder—these are disabilities often contracted in childhood: afflictions which linger to cripple the man and damage the next generation. Our nation must rid itself of this "bitter inheritance. Our goal must be clear--to give every child the chance to fulfill his promise. To meet this goal the President urged the provision of day care services for children under 3 years of age; expansion of training programs for day care counselors, parent advisers, and health visitors; and expansion of day care and homemaker services in State child welfare programs. Child care services should be available to every child who needs them. Good day care is especially important for younger children whose mothers must work for economic reasons, and for children who are economically and culturally deprived, those with physical or mental handicaps, and those whose mothers are incapacitated. The following summary statements and charts document the rising number of working mothers in the United States today and the increasing need for child care services. It is hoped that they will prove helpful in the intensified efforts now underway to provide, expand, and improve day care services throughout the country. Mary Dublin Keyserling Director, Women's Bureau 2 More Than 1 Out of 3 Mothers Is a Worker Today In March 1966 there were nearly 72 million women age and over in the population. years of Of these, almost 28 million had children under 18 years of age. More than one-third (9.9 million) of these mothers were in the labor force. They constituted 37 percent of all wcmen workers. Most of these mothers were working to raise family income above poverty levels or to bring family income closer to standards of modest adequacy, now defined as about $7,000 a year for an urban family of four. 4 CHART 10. MORE THAN 1 OUT OF 3 MOTHERS IS A WORKER TODAY (LABOR FORCE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE POPULATION. BY MARITAL STATUS AND PRESENCE OF CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, MARCH 1966) (WOMEN 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) Millions of Women 30 29.3 27.5 Not in Labor Force 25 In Labor Force 20 15 15,0 10 SOURCE: SEE PAGE 2 4 Single Ever-Married With No Children Under 18 5 Ever-Married With Children Under 18 Nearly 3 Out of 5 Mothers Work When a Husband Is Not Present; 1 Out of 3, When He Is Of the nearly 28 million mothers with children under 18 years of age in the population in March 1966, 3 million were raising their children in fatherless homes or in homes where the husband was absent• A larger proportion of these mothers (57 percent) worked than when there was a husband present ( 3 3 percent). For mothers who must bring up their children alone, the compulsion to work is obviously great. Their earnings are not supplementary; they are basic to the maintenance of their families. In 35 percent of the two-parent families in which the mother worked, the husband's income was less than $ 5 , 0 0 0 . also work because of urgent economic need. 6 These mothers CHART 10. NEARLY 3 OUT OF 5 MOTHERS WORK WHEN A HUSBAND IS NOT PRESENT; 1 OUT OF 3, WHEN HE IS (LABOR FORCE STATUS OF MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, BY PRESENCE OF HUSBAND, MARCH 1966) (MOTHERS 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) Millions of Mothers 30 i - SOURCE: SEE PAGE 2 4 Not in Labor Force In Labor Force 3.0 43% 57% Husband Not Present Husband Present 7 More Mothers Work Today Than Ever Before Nearly 10 million mothers with children under 18 years of age were workers in March 1966. This was the highest number ever recorded and was more than six times the number who were workers in 19**0 and more than twice the number who were workers in 1950* Almost 2 out of 5 mothers in the labor force in March 1966 had children under 6 years of age. This is a slightly higher proportion (39 percent) than in i960 (36 percent) or in 1950 (37 percent). 8 CHART 3. SOURCE: SEE PAGE 24 MORE MOTHERS WORK TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE (MOTHERS IN THE LABOR FORCE,BY AGE OF CHILDREN, 1940-66) V ( M O T H E R S 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) Millions of Mothers 9.9 10 t— 8.0 61% 64% 4.6 Mothers with Children ] 6 to 17 Years Only 63% 139% H 1.5 ;36%| |;37%! 0 1940 1950 * AGES OF CHILDREN NOT AVAILABLE. J J DATA ARE FOR MARCH OF EACH YEAR. 2J MAY ALSO HAVE OLDER CHILDREN. 1960 1966 Under 6 Years 21 More Than 5 Million Mothers 20 to 44 Years of Age, With Children Under 5 Years of Age, Will Be Workers in 1980 The number of working mothers with young children is expected to increase rapidly in the next 15 years. It is conservatively estimated that by 1980, 5*3 million mothers 20 to years of age with children under 5 years of age will "be workers. This will constitute a. 43 percent increase over the 3 m i l l i o n similar mothers who are expected to be in the labor force in 1970• 10 CHART 4. MORE THAN 5 MILLION MOTHERS 20 TO 44 YEARS OF AGE, WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE, WILL BE WORKERS IN 1980 (LABOR FORCE STATUS OF MOTHERS 20 TO 44 YEARS OF AGE, WITH CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS, 1 9 6 0 - 6 6 , 1 / A N D CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS, PROJECTED TO 1980) Millions of Mothers 6 Children Under 5 Years Children Under 6 Years U 5.3 4.5 3.3 3.6 3.7 1966 1970 2.8 1960 1963 J J DATA ARE FOR MARCH OF EACH YEAR. 2/ SOURCE, PROJECTIONS NOT AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS. SEE PAGE 2 4 1975 1980 Mothers With School-Age Children Are More Likely To Work Than Mothers With Younger Children This Has Been True for Many Years Mothers with children 6 to 17 years of age are more likely to be in the labor force than mothers with children under 6 years of age. More than 2 out of 5 (M- percent) mothers (husband present) with children 6 to 17 years of age (none under 6) were workers in March 1966 as compared with about 1 out of k (2^ percent) mothers (husband present) with children under 6 years of age. The differential between the labor force participation of mothers with school-age children and those with preschool-age children has increased since 1950, when the rates were 28 and 12 percent, respectively. Among mothers who are widowed, divorced, or separated, the likelihood of their working is also greater when they have school-age children only than when they have younger children. In March 1966, 66 percent of these mothers with children 6 to 17 years of age only were working as compared with k6 percent of those with children under 6 years of age. This Is True at All Income Levels At all income levels, mothers with school-age children show a greater attachment to the labor force than mothers with younger children. In March 1966 labor force participation was highest (50 percent) among mothers (husband present) with children 6 to 17 years of age when the family income was between $3,000 and $7,000 a year. It was lowest (12 percent) among mothers (husband present) with children under 6 years of age when the family income was $10,000 or more. In a great majority of cases economic necessity prompts mothers of preschool children to work. Information is not available on the family income of mothers who are widowed, divorced, or separated. 12 C H A R T 5. M O T H E R S W I T H SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ARE M O R E LIKELY TO W O R K T H A N M O T H E R S W I T H Y O U N G E R CHILDREN THIS IS TRUE AT ALL INCOME LEVELS THIS HAS BEEN TRUE FOR MANY YEARS (LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION OF MOTHERS WITH HUSBAND PRESENT (LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION OF MOTHERS WITH HUSBAND BY INCOME OF HUSBAND AND AGE OF CHILDREN, MARCH 1966) PRESENT BY AGE OF CHILDREN, 1950-66) ^ Percent Percent Mothers with Children 6 to 17 Years O n l y 50 50 Under 6 Years & oO 50 47 44 44 42 40 38 40 33 30 — 32 30 28 30 28 26 24 21 20 20 18 20 15 12 12 10 10 1 0 l- 0 — SOURCE: SEE PAGE 24. 1950 1954 1958 1962 Year 1 / DATA ARE FOR MARCH OF EACH YEAR. EXCEPT 1954 (APRILS 2/ MAY ALSO HAVE OLDER CHILDREN. 1966 Under $3,000 $3,000 to $4,999 $5,000 $7,000 to to $6,999 $9,999 Income of Husband $10,000 and Over Less Than 1 Out of 5 Mothers (Husband Present) With Children Under 3 Years of Age Work Year Round Full Time Of the 3 million mothers (husband present) who had children under 3 years of age and worked at sometime in 1965, only 17 percent had been employed 35 hours or more a week for 50 to 52 weeks. The percentage who were year-round full-time workers in 1965 was considerably higher among mothers (husband present) with children 3 to 5 years of age (27 percent) and mothers (husband present) with children 6 to 17 years of age (37 percent). 14 CHART 10. LESS THAN 1 OUT OF 5 MOTHERS (HUSBAND PRESENT) WITH CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE WORK YEAR ROUND FULL TIME U (WORK EXPERIENCE IN 1965 OF MOTHERS WITH HUSBAND PRESENT BY AGE OF CHILDREN, MARCH 1966) (MOTHERS 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) Part-Year Workers (Full-and Part-Time) Year-Round Full-Time Workers Percent 100 r 80 63% 60 73% 83% 40 20 SOURCE: SEE PAGE 24 37% S; 27% 17% 6 to 17 Years Only (5.9 Million Mothers) 3 to 5 Years & (None Under 3) (2.0 Million Mothers)^ IJ 50 TO 52 WEEKS. 35 HOURS OR MORE A WEEK. 2J ESTIMATED . 2J MAY ALSO HAVE OLDER CHILDREN. 15 Under 3 Years & (3.0 Million Mothers) A Greater Proportion of Nonvhite Working Mothers Have Young Children There were about 1 million nonvhite mothers (husband present) in the labor force in March 1966. More than half of these mothers had children under 6 years of age--30 percent had children under 3 years and 22 percent, 3 to 5 years. In contrast, only 37 percent of the 7.1 million white mothers (husband present) had children under 6 years of age. 16 CHART 4. A GREATER PROPORTION OF NONWHITE WORKING MOTHERS HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN (MOTHERS IN THE LABOR FORCE, WITH HUSBAND PRESENT BY AGE OF CHILDREN AND COLOR MARCH 1966) (MOTHERS 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) Percent 100 80 - Mothers with Children 60 6 to 17 Years Only 40 3 to 5 Years U (None Under 3) 20 - Under 3 Years 0 J j MAY ALSO HAVE OLDER CHILDREN. SOURCE SEE PAGE 24 Nonwhite (999,000) White (7,136,000) U More Than h Million Children Under 6 Years of Age Have Working Mothers The Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has estimated that more than 17 million children under 18 years of age had working mothers in March 1965. Of these children, more than one-fourth (4.5 million) were under 6 years of age~2.0 million, under 3 years and 2.5 million, 3 to 5 years. Another 6.k million V children, most of whom were in elementary school, were 6 to 11 years of age. 18 CHART 10. MORE THAN 4 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE HAVE WORKING MOTHERS (NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS. BY AGE MARCH 1965) Millions of Children 7T 3 6.4 6.4 6 to 11 Years 12 to 17 Years 2.5 2.0 0 I SOURCE: SEE PAGE 24 tssssssm Under 3 Years 3 to 5 Years 19 Nearly 2 Million Children Whose Mothers Worked Half a Year or More in 1964 Lived in Families With Incomes of Less Than $3,000 A special survey of mothers who worked 27 weeks or more in 1964 was made in February 1965. According to the report of this survey there were nearly 2 million children under 14 years of age living in families whose annual incomes in 1964 were less than $3,000, despite the fact that their mothers worked a half year or more. Nearly 4 million additional children under l4 years of age with working mothers lived in families whose incomes were between $3*000 and $6,000—still below the modest but adequate income level for an urban family of four. 20 CHART 10. NEARLY 2 MILLION CHILDREN WHOSE MOTHERS WORKED HALF A YEAR OR MORE IN 1964 LIVED IN FAMILIES WITH INCOMES OF LESS THAN $3,000 (NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF MOTHERS WHO WORKED 27 WEEKS OR MORE IN 1964. BY FAMILY INCOME IN 1964 AND AGE OF CHILDREN. FEBRUARY 1965) Millions of Children Children 5 SOURCE: SEE PAGE 24 6 to 14 Years 4.5 Under 6 Years 3.9 697c 677c 21 1.9 747c 67% 8 3 3 %% 8 337c 8 Under $3,000 $6,000 $3,000 to $5,999 to $9,999 FAMILY INCOME 21 $10,000 and Over Too Many Children of Working Mothers Lack Good Child Care Services The child care arrangements of mothers who worked 27 weeks or more in 1964 were surveyed in February 1965. million children under l4 years of age. These mothers had 1 2 . 3 Of these children, 46 per- cent were cared for at home by a father, brother, sister, other relative, or by someone hired to look after them in the home. Another 28 percent were looked after by the mother either while she was working or she worked only during their school hours. About 18 percent were cared for away from home, with only 2 percent in group care centers. The remaining 8 percent looked after themselves. few of the younger children lacked any care. However, Less than 4 percent of the children who looked after themselves were under 6 years of age. 22 CHART 10. TOO MANY CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS LACK GOOD CHILD CARE SERVICES (CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS OF WORKING MOTHERS, FEBRUARY 1965) SOURCE: SEE PAGE 2 4 23 Chart Sources Chart 1 . U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Monthly Labor Review, April 1967. Chart 2. Ibid. Chart 3. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census: Current Population Reports, P-50, No. 29 for March 1950; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Special Labor Force Report No. 13 for March i960 and Monthly Labor Review, April 1967 for March 1966; and Women's Bureau, "Women as Workers, A Statistical Guide" for March 19^0. Chart 4 . U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Special Labor Force Report No. 49 for March i960, March 1963, and for Projections to 1980; and Monthly Labor Review, April 1967 for March 1966. Chart U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census: Current Population Reports, P-50, No. 29 for March 1950, No. 62 for April 195^, and No. 87 for March 1958; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Special Labor Force Report No. 26 for March 1962 and Monthly Labor Review, April 1967 for March 1966. Chart 60 Same as Chart 1 . Chart 7- Ibid. Chart 8 . U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Welfare Administration, Children's Bureau. Unpublished data. Chart 9. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Welfare Administration, Children's Bureau; and U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau:11 "Child Care Arrangements of the Nation's Working Mothers. 1965. Ibid. Chart 10* Labor D.C. (WB 67-298) 24