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This study investigates the relationship between maternal employment and state-to-state differences in childcare cost and mean school day length. Pairing state-level measures with an individual-level sample of prime working-age mothers from the American Time Use Survey (2005–2014; n = 37,993), we assess the multilevel and time-varying effects of childcare  costs  and  school  day  length  on  maternal  full-time  and  part-time  employment  and  childcare  time.  We  find  mothers’ odds of full-time employment are lower and part-time employment higher in states with expensive childcare and shorter school days. Mothers spend more time caring for children in states where childcare is more expensive and as childcare costs increase. Our results suggest that expensive childcare and short school days are important barriers to maternal employment and, for childcare costs, result in greater investments in childcare time. Politicians engaged in national debates about federal childcare policies should look to existing state childcare structures for policy guidance. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023119860277

Moms with husbands, live-in male partners are sleeping less and doing more housework than single mothers.

May provide useful service for overworked parents

Safe kids' rides for busy parents

Intersection of time use, family inequality, and well-being

Liana Sayer & Sandra Hofferth

Sandra Hofferth and Liana Sayer

University of Maryland

Liana C. Sayer and Joanna R. Pepin, University of Maryland; Lynne M. Casper, University of Southern California // Keywords: time use, mother, leisure, marital status; 2015-010