Labor-force definition

In 2001, 64 percent of mothers with children under the age of six, and 78 percent of mothers with children ages six to seventeen were in the labor force.

The rapid influx of women into the labor force that began in the 1970s was marked by the confidence of many women in their ability to successfully pursue a career while meeting the needs of their children.

Fabric supplies were scarce and the men had more important matters drawing them away from the labor force.

In the mid-1990s, 58 percent of mothers with children under the age of six, and nearly 75 percent of those with children between the ages of six and 18 were part of the paid labor force.

In addition to having more time to accumulate the necessary financial assets, older mothers are less likely to risk damage to their careers if they decide to temporarily withdraw from the labor force while their children are young.