Mothers' day facts and figures from the ABS
The median age of mothers who gave birth in 2006 was 30.8, up from 29.2 in
1996.
Women could expect to have 1.8 children in their lifetime in 2006, the most
since 1995.
Births are up - Australia registered 265,900 births during 2006 - more than in
any year during the last three decades.
More mothers with children aged under 15 years are employed than in the
past. Almost two-thirds (63%) of mothers with children aged under 15 years
were employed in March 2008, compared with 54% ten years earlier.
60% of employed mothers with children aged under 15 years worked part
time.
As employment among mothers has increased, the use of formal child care has
also increased. The percentage of children under the age of 12 years attending
formal care increased from 14% in 1996 to 23% in 2005.
In 2006, mothers with children aged under 15 years spent, on average,
between 16 hours per week (for those employed full time) to 28 hours per
week (for those not employed) caring for children.
In 2005, 83% of employed mothers with very young children (aged under 2
years) used some form of working arrangement to help balance work and child
care responsibilities. The arrangements most commonly used were flexible
working hours, used by 44% of employed mothers; permanent part-time work,
used by 39%; and working from home, used by 27%.
67% of mothers in a couple family with children aged under 15 years, and
61% of lone mothers with children aged under 15 years, reported in 2006 that
they 'always or often felt rushed or pressed for time'.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Media requests and interviews
Richard Lynch (02) 6252 6139; 0407 107 931
Ilona Fraser (02) 6252 7480; 0418 202 580
Statistical clarification
Heather Crawford (02) 6252 5742; 0429 994 490
NEWS 
