In recent years, college-educated women, especially mothers, have made notable progress in the workforce. But for those without a degree, the picture isn't as bright.
Why it matters: The main difference appears to be job quality. College-educated women are more likely to land jobs that offer paid leave and flexible hours—benefits that make it easier to juggle both work and parenting, a responsibility they’re often expected to take on.
In contrast, women without degrees are more likely to end up in low-paying, service-sector roles with unpredictable schedules and few benefits.
By the numbers: Over the last 20 years, the percentage of college-educated women aged 25-44 working full-time has increased from 64% to 73%, according to new analysis of Census data from the think tank Third Way. But for women without a college degree, that number has barely budged, growing by just 1% to 53%.
Zoom in: A big driver of this shift is the rise in full-time working mothers with college degrees. The share of moms with degrees working full-time has jumped from 57% in 2004 to 68% in 2024. Meanwhile, the percentage of mothers without a degree working full-time hasn’t changed at all.
The big picture: Remote work has been a game-changer for many women, offering them the flexibility to work while still handling family responsibilities—like taking kids to doctor’s appointments or school drop-offs.
Friction point: This divide is even more stark for men. Men without a college degree have seen their participation in the workforce decline, not just stagnate as with women.
Between the lines: Unlike most other developed countries, the U.S. doesn’t have national paid family or sick leave. Instead, it’s up to employers to decide whether to offer these benefits.
For women with college degrees, the benefits are more likely to be in place: 50% of them are in jobs with paid family leave, allowing them to take time off for a baby and still keep their jobs. For women without a degree, though, that number drops to just 38%. These women also tend to have fewer financial resources to afford childcare and may struggle to find help for shifts outside regular working hours, like nights or weekends.
The bottom line: As Curran McSwigan from Third Way put it, “It's hard to say we’re making progress in supporting working women if only those with college degrees seem to be benefiting.”