TABLE 6a.

Mothers (with children under 15 years of age) in the labour force and
non-working mothers who would prefer to work, by age of mother (1973)

Total number Mothers in the Mothers not in the labour force
of mothers
 abour force Who would prefer
 Who would prefer
Age of mother

to work
 not work
         
20 - 24 years 323,000 32% 17% 51%
25 - 34 " 1,184,000 35 13 52
         
35 - 44 " 979,000 39 11 50
         
45 - 54 " 495,000 34 9 57
         
Combined totals 2,981,000 36 12 52



TABLE 6b.

Reasons for not working given by mothers preferring to work but not in the labour force, by age of mothers (1973) (Note: this question was asked of those mothers shown in Table 6a who were not in the labour force but who indicated a preference for working)


No satisfactory No suitable job
Age of mother
 day care
 available
Other
 Totals
         
20 - 24 years 50% 25% 25% 100%
         
25 - 34 " 47 20 33 100
         
35 - 44 " 31 23 46 100
         
45 - 54 " 22 36 40 100



Source:

Statistics Canada, Manpower Research and Development Section, "Preliminary report on working mothers and their day-care arrangements in 1973", Tables 3 and 3b, (Ottawa: Information Canada, 1975).



Comment:

Table 6a does not indicate how many working mothers are doing so as a preference or as a necessity. However, it is clear that in each age group almost half of the mothers interviewed either work or would prefer to work. Those who prefer to not work increase over 45 years of age. Note also that the youngest age groups show the highest proportion of those who would prefer to work but who don't.

Table 6b indicates that inadequate day care arrangements are the greatest obstacle for the two youngest age groups. For the two older age groupings, the major obstacle is listed only as other; and the oldest group reports "no suitable job" as a major obstacle. This suggests child care problems are the major obstacle for those under 35 years and obsolete work skills, lack of recent experience, etc. are the major obstacles for those over 35 years.

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