Just over half of parents in families with a mom and a dad both worked full time last year, setting a record high, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis released Tuesday. The analysis of U.S. Census data found 52% of different-sex couples with minor children now have two full-time working parents. That figure marks a six-percentage-point increase from a decade ago and a 21-point jump since 1975.
The surge reflects broader economic and social shifts. College-educated women are flocking to the workforce at a rapid clip, even as cost-of-living concerns strain household budgets. As recently as 1975, the model of a father as sole breadwinner dominated — 42% of families had a dad working full time and a mom not employed. That share has now fallen to just 23%.
Family work arrangements vary significantly by race and ethnicity. Among white families, 54% now have two full-time earners, while the figure stands at 52% for Asian families. Most Black mothers already work full time alongside their male partners, at a rate of 60%. The analysis focused on different-sex couples because the sample of same-sex parents was too small to draw conclusions.
The data, based on the U.S. Census Current Population Survey, underscores a fundamental reshaping of the American household. In two generations, the dual-earner family has gone from minority to majority, driven by economic necessity and changing gender roles. The trend is likely to continue as more women attain higher education and as inflation persists.
Critics argue the Pew analysis may undercount informal or gig-economy work, particularly among lower-income families where parents work multiple part-time jobs but are not captured as full-time employees. The data also does not assess the impact of remote work arrangements on these trends.