More dads taking paid family leave for a new baby, sometimes as much as moms are

The U.S. has no national law for paid parental leave. But in states that do, more dads are using the benefit, sometimes more than moms. The change comes as Americans say having kids is unaffordable.

The top 3

  1. Drivers of Increased Paternity Leave Utilization: The increase in paternity leave usage is attributed to a combination of evolving cultural perceptions of fatherhood and tangible policy enhancements. Higher income replacement rates, now reaching up to 90% of regular salary in some states, make taking leave a financially viable option for more families.
  2. Economic Context and Policy Limitations: While states like California, Colorado, and Washington have implemented paid family leave programs, there is no federal mandate, leaving many Americans without guaranteed paid leave. This disparity occurs at a time when 70% of Americans report that raising children has become unaffordable, heightening the necessity for financial support structures during the transition to parenthood.

Sources

Open the full topic