The April 2025 edition of Pulse of the U.S. Workforce, titled “Having It All: Parenting, Work, and the Pursuit of Balance,” uncovers how working parents across America are navigating rising demands at home and at work. With over 110,000 voices represented, the report offers a nuanced look at the intersection of parenting, work, and well-being—and the findings may surprise you. The report reveals something surprising (and uplifting) about how parents - many of whom are leaders at home and at work - are experiencing the workplace today. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about engagement and leadership potential for this critical cohort that comprises over 40% of the U.S. workforce right now.

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Despite the cultural narrative of burnout and imbalance, parents in the U.S. workforce are actually thriving in many areas. From higher engagement and job happiness to greater trust in leadership and a stronger sense of belonging, parents are reporting more positive work experiences than their non-parent peers.

But the picture isn’t entirely optimistic. While parents appear to be doing better overall, they’re also more likely to report struggling to focus, feeling the emotional weight of career compromises, and carrying the financial burden of childcare—especially those in lower income brackets. One striking data point: 66% of working parents say they’ve made career compromises due to personal life demands, compared to just over half of non-parents who work. Working mothers, in particular, report making these compromises more often than working fathers.

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Download the report now to understand how parenting is shaping the workplace—and how to support, retain, and inspire a multigenerational, working-parent workforce. Explore an annual subscription to receive just-in-time insights on workforce trends.