Working parents struggle to navigate work and family, survey confirms : NPR

Key Points:

• A Pew Research Center survey reveals that two-thirds of working mothers and half of working fathers feel they cannot give 100% at home, with many also struggling to fully commit to their jobs due to family demands.
• The number of families with both parents working full time has increased from 31% in 1975 to 52% in 2025, while families with a full-time working dad and a non-working mom have decreased significantly.
• Working parents, especially those with lower incomes and single mothers, face financial strain and worry about losing pay when attending to family needs; paid sick leave and affordable childcare are key supports they desire.
• Despite the growth of remote work, parents working from home still face challenges balancing work and family responsibilities, often multitasking between parenting and job duties.
• Rising costs of living and childcare make expanding families difficult for many working parents, as exemplified by Amber Petersen, who finds having another child financially and logistically unfeasible.