Challenges Faced by Working Mothers in Post-Pandemic America

Jessica Cuevas has always been passionate about her role as a college counselor at a high school, where she guided students toward their future paths. However, after welcoming her first son in January 2021, she made the difficult decision to transition to a remote position at a grocery store chain. This shift was driven by her need for greater flexibility and the elimination of daily commuting, allowing her to balance her new responsibilities as a mother.

Two years later, after the arrival of her second son, Jessica decided to leave that role as well. While she had initially relied on her mother for childcare support, her parents began spending more time in Mexico, leaving her in a challenging situation without an affordable and dependable childcare solution. Now, at 35 and residing in Chicago, Jessica works part-time from home for an education nonprofit. However, this work is often sporadic, and the income it provides is inconsistent at best.

Jessica aspires to secure a full-time position, driven by the desire for her family to move into a larger home. Yet, she grapples with the daunting reality that the cost of childcare could potentially negate any financial benefits of returning to full-time work. “Right now, considering the economy and the rising cost of living, we feel stuck,” she shared, capturing the sentiment of many working mothers today.

Despite the challenges, it is noteworthy that the participation rate of women in their prime working years has reached unprecedented levels in the aftermath of the pandemic, soaring to a record high of 78.1 percent in May. However, recent analyses from the Hamilton Project, an economic policy research group at the Brookings Institution, indicate that the increase in labor force participation among women with children under the age of five has stagnated since September, raising concerns about the long-term implications for working mothers.