Pregnant Women Working Longer
Women are working later into pregnancy and returning sooner to the office after giving birth than they did years ago, a Census Bureau report suggests.
However, more new mothers may be taking advantage of flexible hours and working part time.
The report showed rates of pregnant workers reaching a plateau in the early 1990s. The biggest increases came in the 1970s and early 1980s, especially after the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Law was enacted.
The survey looked at maternity leave and employment patterns of women who gave birth to their first child. It compared data from 1961 to 1995.
Between 1991 and 1995, 67% of women who gave birth to their first child worked during their pregnancy. That was up from 44% between 1961 and 1965.
The percentage of mothers working full time rose from 40% in the early 1960s to 54% in the early 1990s, and the percentage of those who worked part time increased to 12% from 5%.
In the early 1990s, 52% of women who gave birth returned to work after six months, up from 14% in the early 1960s.
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