Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals a concerning trend in San Antonio, as the percentage of women who have recently given birth and are participating in the workforce has been on a steady decline. While the rest of the country has witnessed a rise in new mothers returning to work within a year of giving birth, San Antonio stands as an exception to this national trend.
The Significance: Motherhood frequently interrupts women’s career trajectories, often causing a temporary exit from the labor force. This phenomenon tends to slow down career progression and income growth for women, contributing to the persistent gender pay gap.
Breaking Down the Numbers: In 2022, only 56.8% of women in the San Antonio metro area who had given birth within the previous 12 months were engaged in the workforce, according to the latest data from the American Community Survey. This represents a notable drop from the 2021 figure of 60.5% and the 2019 statistic of 61.7%.
Notably, San Antonio ranks at the bottom among major Texas metropolitan areas when it comes to the percentage of women who recently gave birth and are actively part of the workforce.
National Context: In contrast, the nation as a whole has witnessed an upswing in new mothers’ participation in the workforce, reaching a decade-plus high last year. As of 2022, 66.6% of women in the U.S. who gave birth in the preceding 12 months were actively involved in the labor force, compared to 61.6% in 2010.
The Broader Picture: The availability of remote and flexible work arrangements has played a pivotal role in facilitating the balancing act for new mothers, allowing them to manage both parenting and their careers. This development aligns with Axios’ report by Emily Peck.
However, an underlying challenge in this equation is the escalating cost of child care, driven in part by insufficient supply and low wages for caregivers. Many families are increasingly confronted with the tough choice of whether both parents should work or if one should remain at home to look after the children, often leading to mothers opting for the latter due to the gender pay gap.
A Closer Look at San Antonio: The comparatively lower median household income in San Antonio likely contributes to the reduced workforce participation among new mothers. Lloyd Potter, a Texas state demographer and professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, notes that for women earning at or near the minimum wage, the cost of child care may surpass their potential earnings, rendering it financially unviable to return to work.
Furthermore, San Antonio’s demographic profile as a younger city means that new mothers who are still early in their careers may not have access to the same work benefits and flexibility as those with more experience. Additionally, the city lacks a substantial remote workforce, which is more prevalent in cities like Austin.
Economic Implications: Lloyd Potter suggests that an increase in the number of working mothers in San Antonio could lead to higher household incomes in the region, emphasizing the economic benefit of women rejoining the labor force.
“Most economists would think that having women return to the labor force and working would be a net economic benefit for the region,” Potter asserts.
