Major occupations, paid maternity leave, and private insurance of working peripartum women with poverty in the United States, 2019

Abstract

Abstract Background We aimed to determine the major occupations and employee benefit gaps among US working peripartum women with poverty and examine the associations of the major occupations with poverty status, temporary absence from work, or private health insurance coverage. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we included women who gave birth and have had a job within the last 12 months from 2019 Public Use Microdata Sample data from full American Community Survey microdata. Results Among women in the major occupations, 51.2% were uninsured through an employer/union. Single mothers accounted for 78.1% of working moms with poverty in the major occupations. Compared to women in other occupations, women in the major occupations had fewer working hours/weeks and paid leave. Cleaners and grounds maintenance workers were most likely to be in poverty or uninsured through an employer/union. Food preparation and serving related workers were least likely to have temporary absence from work. Conclusions Compared with other occupations, the major occupations were more likely to be insecure and less likely to include employee benefits. Our study suggests that supportive policies regarding employee benefits are needed for peripartum women with poverty working in the major occupations.