Preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more mothers are returning to work within a year of giving birth, and more are returning to full-time positions. According to the Census Bureau, of the 3.6 million women who gave birth between June 1997 and June 1998, 59 percent returned to the work force within a year, compared to 31 percent in 1976 and 51 percent in 1987. In 1976, only 33 percent of couples with children were two-income households; now, both spouses are employed in 51 percent of couples with children. Flexible work schedules, family leave policies, and improved child care options have facilitated women’s re-entry into the work force, which is essential to many families’ income.
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