Previous research on maternal employment has disproportionately focused on married, college-educated mothers and … examined either current employment status or postpartum return to employment. Following the life course perspective, we instead … common employment patterns of American mothers over the first 18 years of maternity. About two-thirds follow steady patterns …

employment, low youth and female unemployment, flexibility, and a low share of the "working poor", all of which can beneficially … self-employment, and an excess of labor cost growth over productivity growth, all of which can threaten further economic …