TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida was ranked one of the worst states for working moms, a WalletHub study found.
Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and about 74% of moms with children under the age of 18 were employed in 2025.
Florida was ranked 41st on the best states for working moms, with Louisiana coming in last.
According to WalletHub, despite women making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, working mothers face significant challenges.
Some of the challenges are that, on average, women earn only about 82% of what men make per hour, and just 9.4% of chief executives at S&P 500 companies are women.
The challenges not only raise financial concerns, but also the social question about whether women are still expected to choose between building a career and raising a family, according to WalletHub.
“The U.S. still has a lot of work to do when it comes to improving conditions for working moms, given the wage gap and the lack of representation women have in certain leadership positions. However, some states are significantly better than others. The best states for working moms provide equitable pay for women and a strong potential for career advancement, along with robust parental leave policies and high-quality child care, health care, and schools,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst said.
WalletHub compared 17 key metrics like parental leave policies and quality of essential support systems like affordable child care and strong public schools.
When it comes to day-care systems, Florida was ranked 48th.
On the other end of the list, Connecticut was ranked the best place for working moms due to being great for childcare and good parental leave policies, according to WalletHub.
For more information, visit their website.
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