Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, women in charge of professional and childcare responsibilities have had negative consequences for their careers.
Recent research from the US Census Bureau, based on information from the Current Population Survey, showed that about 10 million American mothers living with school-age children did not work actively in January 2021, an increase of 1.4 million compared to pre-pandemic levels .
As working mothers re-enter the workforce, there are some places where they can better balance work and family life, according to WalletHub’s latest report, which ranks the best and worst states for working mothers in 2022.
To compile the list, WalletHub, a personal finance site, compared 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: child care, professional opportunities, and work-life balance.
17 measurements were used, including childcare costs, gender pay gaps and parental leave policy, and measurements were weighted differently. The total score was calculated using weighted averages for all measurements for each state.
Based on the WalletHub report, these are the 10 best states for working mothers:
1. Massachusetts
Overall score: 62.99
Childcare ranking: 4
Work-life balance: 1
2. Connecticut
Overall score: 62.95
Childcare ranking: 5
Work-life balance: 5
3. Rhode Island
Overall score: 61.99
Childcare ranking: 7
Work-life balance:
Minnesota
Overall score: 59.79
Childcare ranking: 1
Work-life balance: 15
5. Wisconsin
Overall score: 57.57
Childcare ranking: 6
Work-life balance: 10
6. District of Columbia
Overall score: 57.35
Childcare ranking: 11
Work-life balance: 7
7. Vermont
Overall score: 55.40
Childcare placement: 9
Work-life balance: 9
8. New Jersey
Overall score: 55.26
Childcare ranking: 15
Work-life balance: 8
9. New York
Overall score: 53.53
Childcare ranking: 3
Work-life balance: 13
10. New Hampshire
Overall score: 52.19
Childcare ranking: 8
Work-life balance: 34
WalletHub also identified the 10 worst states for working mothers in its report: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Idaho, Nevada, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgia and California.
According to David Rothwell, an associate professor at Oregon State University and an expert on the report, the top five indicators when assessing the best states for working mothers include “day care expenses, day care availability, state paid family leave policy, state policy regarding. sick leave and housing costs. “
New York claimed No. 1 spot for best day care systems, while Connecticut won first place for the lowest gender pay gap. The District of Columbia claimed a No. 1 spot for the highest female leader in male leadership.
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