RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

Surge of Single Mothers Entering the Labor Force Are Seeking Homeownership

Home Latest News
Commentary by Desirée Patno
December 21, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Surge of Single Mothers Entering the Labor Force Are Seeking Homeownership

Working together. Young beautiful businesswoman using laptop while sitting with her baby girl at her working place

Single women have outpaced men in homeownership since 1986, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By and large, college-educated women who have delayed marriage have greater buying power and overall financial independence. As more single mothers enter the labor force, they are one step closer to financial independence and being able to afford a home.

Despite facing many barriers to employment, such as finding affordable childcare and predictable work schedules, the share of young, single mothers in the workforce increased 4 percentage points since 2015, as shown in recent Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

The rise in single mothers entering the workforce has been a response to less reliable federal policies, such as welfare, that have left working for pay the only option. In addition, new policies at the local level, such as paid leave, minimum wage increases and other family-friendly policies, have made it easier for single mothers to take advantage of the competitive labor market. The highest growth in employment for young mothers has been in nursing and in managing and moving warehouse inventory.

According to a Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco report, women of all races and ethnicities between the ages of 25 and 54 have increased their share in labor force participation since 2014. The share of women with either a college education or more in the labor force is the highest among all groups by educational attainment, but growth has not been as significant in the last few years.

There are 2.7 million mothers between the ages of 25 and 34 who are not married or living with a partner, and they make up nearly 25 percent of all mothers in this age group. On top of the daily challenges of raising children on their own, these women also tend to be poorer and less educated than other women their age.

Half of single mothers make less than $30,000 per year, which is true for only 20 percent of all young women. Half of single mothers also have only a high school diploma or less, compared to just 29 percent of all young women. Single mothers in both rural and urban areas without a college degree, however, account for a majority of the recent increase in single mothers’ participation in the labor force.

Single or not, with children or without, women seek homeownership for a variety of reasons, including having a sanctuary or refuge, cementing one’s professional progress and helping lay an economic foundation for years to come, and providing a stable home for their children.

Fortunately, there are resources available for single women homebuyers to assist them in the home-buying process. For instance, programs are offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as at the local and state level. Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs) and Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are also at their disposal. These programs can help single mothers buy homes and assist with the down payment regardless of whether or not they have a low income or poor credit history.

Desirée Patno is the CEO and president of Women in the Housing and Real Estate Ecosystem (NAWRB) and Desirée Patno Enterprises, Inc. (DPE), as well as chairwoman of NAWRB’s Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC). With 30 years of experience in housing, Patno is a champion for women’s economic growth and independence. In 2017, Entrepreneur.com named her the Highest-Ranking Woman and 4th Overall Top Real Estate Influencer to Follow. For more information, please visit www.nawrb.com.

Tags: NAWRBWomen Homebuyers
ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

The One Big Beautiful Bill Is a Victory for Homeownership—and a Testament to Realtor® Advocacy
Agents

The One Big Beautiful Bill Is a Victory for Homeownership—and a Testament to Realtor® Advocacy

July 18, 2025
Phillip Cantrell, EVP of United Real Estate, Announces Release of New Book, ‘Failing My Way to Success’
Industry News

Phillip Cantrell, EVP of United Real Estate, Announces Release of New Book, ‘Failing My Way to Success’

July 18, 2025
The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Brand Expands in Western Tennessee
Industry News

The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Brand Expands in Western Tennessee

July 18, 2025
Century
Agents

Century 21 AllPoints Appoints New Regional Sales Manager and Master Coach

July 18, 2025
consumer
Economy

Consumer Sentiment Hits Highest Level in Five Months

July 18, 2025
NAR
Agents

At Forecast Summit, NAR Chief Economist Sees Rosier Home Sales on Horizon

July 18, 2025
Please login to join discussion
Tip of the Day

Must-Have Equipment for Homes With a Private Well

To help you keep your well running smoothly and safely, we've compiled a list of must-have equipment for homes with private wells. Read more.

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Is a Victory for Homeownership—and a Testament to Realtor® Advocacy
  • Phillip Cantrell, EVP of United Real Estate, Announces Release of New Book, ‘Failing My Way to Success’
  • The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Brand Expands in Western Tennessee

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2025 Newsmakers
    • 2024 Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2025 Power Broker
    • 2024 Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X