The historic surge in employment among working mothers seen during the pandemic has reversed sharply in 2025, as new data reveal tens of thousands of American women, especially those with young children, leaving the workforce. According to federal labor statistics analyzed by the Washington Post , the labor force participation rate for women aged 25 to 44 with children under five fell nearly 3 percentage points between January and June 2025, reaching its lowest level in over three years.

Workforce trends and gender gaps

Fortune ’s analysis integrates these workforce shifts with a broader view of corporate America’s changing priorities. Our coverage finds:

While flexible and remote work previously enabled women—particularly mothers—to remain employed, return-to-office requirements ha

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