A majority of two-parent families in the United States now have both parents working full time, marking a notable increase over the past decade, according to a report released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center. The analysis reveals that 52 percent of families with different-sex couples had both parents employed full time in 2023, up six percentage points from 10 years earlier.

The shift is largely driven by mothers with higher education. Women holding bachelor’s or postgraduate degrees are increasingly moving into full-time employment, choosing it over part-time work at higher rates than observed in 2000. This trend reflects broader changes in workforce participation and family dynamics fueled by an increasingly educated generation of women. Women currently earn the majority of bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded each year.

Pew’s findings also highlight the positive perception many working couples have regarding dual full-time incomes. An accompanying opinion poll found that 83 percent of married or cohabiting partners working full time considered their combined employment a clear financial benefit. Additionally, nearly half (49 percent) believed this arrangement positively affected their children’s well-being.

The study focused exclusively on different-sex couples due to a limited sample size of same-sex couples. It emphasizes how evolving gender roles in the labor market are influencing household responsibilities. While men generally continue to earn higher wages than women on average, the earnings gap has narrowed most significantly among younger workers.

Changes in family life extend beyond financial aspects. Research cited in the report notes that fathers with college degrees are increasingly dedicating time to parenting and household chores instead of work, signaling shifts in traditional caregiving roles. Pew’s data suggests greater satisfaction among couples who share parenting duties equally: 65 percent of mothers and 71 percent of fathers reporting an even division of such tasks indicated they were satisfied. In contrast, fewer parents expressed contentment when mothers took on a larger share, with only 22 percent of mothers and 44 percent of fathers reporting satisfaction under that arrangement.

These findings underline how evolving educational attainment and economic factors continue to reshape family and work patterns across the United States.