Working Parents Report ‘Tug of War’ Between Job and Family

The Boundary Between Work and Family Has Blurred

A new Pew Research Center survey of 2,242 working parents paints a stark picture: the line between professional and personal life has nearly disappeared. The majority of full-time working parents (70%) manage parenting-related tasks during work hours, while 59% tackle work responsibilities while spending time with their children. More than half (54%) report that balancing these dual roles is genuinely difficult.

Mothers Face Disproportionate Pressure

The data reveals a significant gender divide in the struggle. Among full-time working mothers, 62% say balancing work and family is difficult, compared to just 47% of fathers. The imbalance extends beyond stress levels into daily responsibilities. In dual-income households, 52% of mothers handle more day-to-day parenting tasks, while only 10% of fathers take on greater responsibility. Notably, 81% of working mothers juggle parenting tasks at work, versus 62% of fathers.

Nearly 70% of full-time working mothers report they couldn’t give their best effort at home due to work demands, compared with 50% of fathers. One mother captured the challenge perfectly: “I’m supposed to work like I don’t have kids and supposed to parent like I don’t have a job.”

A Growing Nationwide Concern

The Pew findings align with broader research trends. A 2025 Bright Horizons survey found that 79% of working parents feel forced to choose between sacrifices at home or work. Meanwhile, the KPMG Working Parents Survey revealed that while 76% of parents say parenthood boosted workplace motivation, 50% prioritize flexible work arrangements like four-day workweeks.

As of 2025, 52% of couples with children under 18 have two full-time working parents—a dramatic increase from just 31% in 1975. This fundamental shift in family structure reflects changing economics but has left many households feeling stretched beyond capacity.