A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows a wide disparity in the work experience of pregnant women depending on their level of education. The study finds that for women who gave birth for the first time in the years 2006 to 2008, 65.6 percent worked during their pregnancy. For women who did not graduate from high school, only 28.3 percent worked during their pregnancy. About half of the women with a high school diploma, but no college experience, worked while pregnant. But for college-educated women, 86.6 percent worked during their pregnancy.
For women who worked during their pregnancy, 43.2 of women with less than a high school education were still working in the last month of their pregnancy. But 71.8 percent of college-educated women were still working in the last month of their pregnancy.
The report also showed that 66.3 percent of college-educated working women received some paid maternity leave after giving birth. Only 31.6 percent of women with only a high school diploma received paid maternity leave.
Obviously, women with a college degree are more likely to be employed than women with lower levels of education. And it seems likely that college-educated women are more likely to be employed in occupations that provide working conditions and other benefits that make it easier for pregnant women to remain in the work force.
Nevertheless, the statistics are another indication of the huge value of higher education for women.