"But after her son was born in April 2022, her employer pushed going back to the office, an hourlong drive from her home in Snellville, Georgia. Then, her mom's arthritis flared up. Walker said she worked in a hybrid model for a few months after her maternity leave, but soon realized "it just didn't make sense, financially." The day care she wanted to send her son to cost $1,500 per month. Plus, hearing his cries when she left for work was unbearable. She quit."
"Economists warn the decision to step away, even temporarily, could have lasting damage on their earnings and careers. "The research is pretty clear that if you exit the labor market or take a step back when you're young, there are benefits to it, but they're not usually financial," said Lauren Bauer, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution."
Miya Walker, 25, left her data analyst job after child-care and commuting costs and lack of family support made work financially and emotionally untenable. Desired day care cost $1,500 per month and commuting to a mandated office an hour away compounded pressures. Many educated women face similar constraints that make combining paid work and motherhood unsustainable. Federal data show a growing share of mothers with young children exiting the workforce, eroding labor-force gains from the COVID-19 pandemic. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate labor-force participation for women with children under six fell to 66.4% in August, while men's rose to 95.6%. Economists warn temporary exits can inflict lasting earnings and career damage.
Read at Aol
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]