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The Landscape of Parental Leave-Taking in the United States

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Abstract

This paper leverages new data linkages to provide the most detailed account to date of the length and timing of parental leave in the United States. Most mothers remain employed throughout pregnancy and their child’s first year of life, but the average maternity leave lasts only 7.2 weeks. Fathers take less than 1 week on average. Despite a steady increase in benefits, average leave duration has declined in recent decades. Our results highlight uneven access and incomplete take-up of parental leave benefits and suggest a modest rise in leave would lead to economically meaningful improvements in maternal health.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Jack & Daniel Tannenbaum & Brenden Timpe, 2025. "The Landscape of Parental Leave-Taking in the United States," Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute Working Papers 118, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
  • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedmoi:102120
    DOI: 10.21034/iwp.118
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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