Podcast Summary: "Why Moms Are Leaving Their Paid Jobs"

Podcast: The Indicator from Planet Money
Host: Waylon Wong, Darian Woods
Date: September 5, 2025
Episode Description: This episode explores the recent trend of mothers leaving or scaling back from paid employment, drawing on fresh labor market data and first-hand stories. It examines the economic and personal factors that explain why many working moms are reconsidering their relationship with work, featuring insights from economist Misty Hegenes.

Main Theme & Purpose

The episode dives into the reasons behind a notable decline in labor force participation among mothers, especially those with young children, using both statistical insights and personal stories. The conversation touches on broader labor market trends, the effects of workplace policies since the pandemic, and what these patterns say about the overall health of the U.S. economy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Latest Jobs Data: A "Holding Pattern" Amidst Change

• Labor Market Stats (00:14):
  • In August 2025, the U.S. added only 22,000 jobs, with unemployment edging up to 4.3%, a four-year high.
  • Despite stagnation overall, certain groups—particularly mothers—are increasingly leaving paid work.

"The data suggests that the overall labor market is in this holding pattern... Beneath the surface though, there are groups of people who are leaving the workforce and one of those groups is mothers."
—Waylon Wong (00:38)

2. Firsthand Stories: Why Moms Are Opting Out

Nicole Damstetter: Prioritizing Irreplaceable Moments

• Nicole, a tech professional in Orlando, chose to leave her job to spend more time with her preschool-aged daughter.
• She shares how valuing this limited period in her child’s life drove her decision.

"I started to think ahead and realized I’ve only got a little time left before [she] starts real, you know, big kid school... And I don’t want to miss this."
—Nicole Damstetter (02:49)

• Nicole and her daughter marked the change with a countdown calendar for "mommy all the time days" and now fully embrace creative play together.

Ivy Abed: The Limits of Flexibility

• Ivy, a science educator in Chicago, found it impossible to balance full-time work with the needs of her daughter (with a medical condition) and her mother (developing memory issues).
• Despite attempts at flexible work arrangements, she ultimately shifted to a part-time community college role for more autonomy, but took a significant pay cut.

"I’m doing the same kind of work that would be earning $45 or $50 an hour... But as a part-time employee... I have to get paid half as much."
—Ivy Abed (07:04)

• Ivy notes that while the reduction in income is difficult, she values the ability to care for her family and herself.

Rosie Nestingen: Redefining Work and Self-Worth

• Rosie from Minneapolis lost her corporate job during maternity leave, which set her on a path to reevaluate her career.
• After health issues and time away, she’s returned to work with a more limited schedule and a new philosophy: to model a healthier, more inclusive approach to work for her daughter.

"I really try to situate myself in spaces where those things exist and are true... I’m not the black person in the room that has to tell you why you should care about diversity. Like, I can’t do that anymore."
—Rosie Nestingen (09:39)

3. The Data Behind the Stories: Trends in Workforce Participation

• Recent Decline (03:45, 04:47):

  • Between January and June 2025, labor force participation among moms with children under five dropped from 70% to 67%, after peaking at 71% in 2023.
  • The pandemic had pushed more mothers into paid employment, thanks to flexible and remote work options.

• Reversal of Progress (05:20):

  • The end of pandemic-era flexibility, especially due to "return to office" mandates, is pushing some mothers out.
  • Even when options are available, care responsibilities can outweigh the value of flexible or part-time work due to lower pay and unpredictable demands.

"What we're seeing now is... some of the larger employers... have really pushed on this idea of return to office. And I think it's had an unintended consequence on caregivers’ ability to work."
—Darian Woods (05:20)

4. Economic Vulnerabilities: Black Moms and Leading Indicators

• Black Moms at Greater Risk (07:48):
  • Black women, often concentrated in lower-paid and less secure jobs, face higher unemployment (6.7% in August vs. 4.3% overall), and take longer to re-enter the labor force.

"Black women especially, tend to be overrepresented in jobs with lower pay and less security. And it takes them, on average, longer to find work after being unemployed."
—Waylon Wong (07:48)

• Moms as Economic Sentinels (08:09):
  • Declines among mothers with young children serve as an early warning for broader labor market health; they are usually first pushed out in downturns.

"These moms with kids under five is definitely like a canary in the coal mine... they're the ones that will be first to get pushed out."
—Darian Woods (08:09)

5. Broader Implications & Calls for Change

• Diverse Experiences:

  • Not all mothers leave for the same reasons; some choose to, others are forced by circumstances or a lack of accommodating workplace policies.
  • The reshuffling is prompting many women to rethink the role of work in their lives.

• Policy Solutions Needed (09:58):

  • Economist Misty Hegenes emphasizes the need for more affordable childcare and greater workplace flexibility to keep mothers engaged in paid work.

"These conversations are what economist Misty Haganess said should be happening among employers and policymakers. She hopes those conversations will lead to efforts on affordable childcare and workplace flexibility."
—Host (09:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We made a calendar to have her count down the days to what she was calling mommy all the time days." —Nicole Damstetter (03:23)
• "Taking the pay cut is the hardest part, both in terms of... my sense of self and what I'm contributing to our family unit." —Ivy Abed (07:04)
• “How are we making life better for women? How are we making life better for people of color?” —Rosie Nestingen (09:39)
• "Sorry, I can't say moms. I just cannot." —Waylon Wong (10:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:14 – Overview of latest jobs report and the labor market’s “holding pattern”
• 02:21 – Nicole Damstetter’s story: why she left her tech job to spend more time with her daughter
• 03:45 – Labor force participation statistics for mothers
• 03:58 – Introduction of economist Misty Hegenes and her research
• 05:38 – Ivy Abed’s story: balancing caregiving for both daughter and mother
• 07:34 – Economic data on Black moms and broader labor market trends
• 09:07 – Rosie Nestingen’s reflections on redefining career after job loss and motherhood
• 09:58 – Call for workplace and policy reforms to support mothers

Takeaways

• The drop in mothers’ workforce participation signals both persistent gaps in work-family support and shifting values among U.S. women.
• Stories shared reveal the interplay between systemic economic pressures and intensely personal decision-making.
• As post-pandemic work flexibility recedes, many mothers face difficult trade-offs between family care, income, and self-worth.
• Economists and advocates push for lasting solutions—namely affordable childcare and flexible work—which could help reverse troubling trends.