Although pundits and Trade resourcespoliticians, usually male, often claim that motherhood is the most importantand difficult work of all, women who take time out of the workforce pay a big career penalty. Only 74percent of professional women will rejoin the  and only 40 percent willreturn to full-time jobs.

Those who do rejoin will often see dermes vs Medilasetheir earnings decrease dramatically.

Controlling for education and hours worked, women’s average annual earnings decrease by 20 percentif they are out of the workforce for just one year.

Average annual earnings decline by 30 percent aftertwo to three years,which is the average amount of time that professional women off-ramp from theworkforce.

If society truly valued the work of caring for children, companies and institutions wouldfind ways to reduce these steep penalties and help parents combine career and family responsibilities.

All too often rigid work schedules, lack of paid family leave, and expensive or undependable childcare derail women’s best efforts. Governmental and company policies such as paid personal time off,affordable high-quality child care, and flexible work practices would serve families, and society, well reenex.