By Dr. Tamara Patzer
Many women step back from paid work to care for children or aging parents, and many want a way back that does not require a nine-to-five commute. New federal figures and a national survey show how common that pause is, and they point to a gap: flexible work is often the missing piece. One small corner of the job market, project-based expert work for AI companies, advertises exactly that kind of flexibility, with limits that every applicant should understand before saying yes.
Key Takeaways
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 73.9% of mothers with children under 18 were in the labor force in 2025, compared with 93.7% of fathers.
- For mothers whose youngest child was under 6, the figure was 68.0%, against 78.2% for mothers whose youngest was 6 to 17.
- In a Catalyst survey of women who left the workforce in 2025, 42% of those who left voluntarily named caregiving, including the cost of child care, as their strongest reason.
- Among those same women, 37% said their employers did not offer flexible schedules, according to HR Brew’s account of the survey.
- Project-based expert roles advertise flexibility but promise no hours and no income, and workers are usually independent contractors.
What the Federal Numbers Show
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its annual report on the employment characteristics of families on April 23, 2026. It found that 73.9% of mothers with children under age 18 took part in the labor force in 2025, which means they were working or looking for work. The rate for fathers was 93.7%. Both were little changed from the year before.
The gap widens with younger children. Among mothers with a child under 6, the participation rate was 68.0%. For mothers whose youngest child was between 6 and 17, it was 78.2%. The bureau also noted that because October 2025 data was not collected during the federal government shutdown, the 2025 estimates use 11-month averages and are not strictly comparable with earlier years.
Why Some Women Leave, in Their Own Words
Catalyst, a nonprofit that works on women’s advancement, surveyed women who left the workforce in 2025. It reported that 42% of those who left voluntarily said caregiving responsibilities, including the cost of child care, were the strongest factor in their decision. HR Brew, summarizing the survey on February 3, 2026, added that 37% of those women said their employers had not offered flexible work schedules.
Researchers are careful about cause and effect here. University of Kansas economist Misty Heggeness, a former Census Bureau economist, has said that when flexible work became a normal expectation in the labor market, mothers were able to raise their participation. Time reported in 2025 on her analysis of federal data showing that labor force participation among women ages 25 to 44 living with a child under five fell from 69.7% to 66.9% between January and June of that year. The numbers describe a pattern. They do not prove why any one woman made her choice.
Where Project-Based Expert Work Fits
For women who are ready to earn again but not ready for a fixed schedule, the question is often whether any work bends around a child’s pickup time or a parent’s appointments. Some do. The Expert Opportunity Report, a free newsletter that tracks open contract roles from AI companies, lists remote positions in which companies pay professionals to review and improve AI output. The roles are project-based, and the report’s guide to reading a listing notes that there is no set schedule or minimum number of hours.
That is both the appeal and the risk. A listing may let you work when you can, and it may also leave you with an empty week. The report notes that certification verifies a skill but does not guarantee a placement, that access to projects depends on project requirements and availability, and that a profile stays active for future projects if you are not matched right away. Its guide describes a four-step process: apply, take an AI interview that runs 20 to 40 minutes, onboard, and start work.
Home-Based Tasks Are the Entry Point for Some
The report’s page on at-home video recording lists two roles checked on October 31, 2026. One is advertised at $6 an hour for applicants in Latin America and the other at $15 an hour. The listed skills are a smartphone, video recording, attention to detail, and household tasks. Those are advertised rates, not earnings, and the page states that advertised pay does not guarantee selection, a particular rate, or any amount of work.
Professional roles carry higher advertised ranges. The report’s guide cites bilingual roles advertised at $30 to $65 an hour. It also points to a Bloomberg report of an average of $110 an hour at one company, with the company saying it had no data on how many tasks pay that rate, and the guide stresses that an average does not show what any single person earns.
What Contract Status Means for Your Household Budget
Most of these roles pay as independent contractor work. The report’s guide explains, citing an IRS FAQ reviewed September 28, 2026, that a Form 1099-NEC treats a worker as self-employed, that pay is reported on Schedule C, and that self-employment tax applies to net earnings of $400 or more. No tax is withheld, so estimated payments may be needed. This is general information, not tax advice, and a tax professional can answer questions about a particular household.
Contract work also usually comes without employer benefits such as health coverage or paid leave. For a woman who has left a job over caregiving costs, that matters as much as the hourly figure.
How To Protect Yourself While You Look
Women searching for flexible work are a common target for fake offers. The report’s guide advises that only messages from addresses ending in the company’s official domains are genuine, and the Federal Trade Commission says never to pay to be hired. Read the full posting, confirm the permitted country, and treat openings counts and “high demand” tags as platform labels rather than promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a professional to qualify?
Not for every role. Some listings, such as at-home video recording, list basic skills, while others look for credentials. Each posting states what it wants.
Can I choose my own hours?
Project work usually has no set schedule, but deadlines and availability come from the project. Read the posting for expectations.
Is this a replacement for a regular job?
For most people, it is not. Work can be uneven, and the report cautions that opportunities can dry up.
Where can I see current listings?
The report’s page on at-home video recording opportunities shows two current roles, and the free Expert Opportunity Report newsletter publishes new ones as they appear.
Dr. Tamara Patzer is a publisher and former newspaper editor who writes about AI and business data.
You may reach her at info@dailysuccessinstitute.com
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Characteristics of Families, 2025, released April 23, 2026; Catalyst, caregiving pressures survey, 2026; HR Brew, February 3, 2026; Time, 2025, analysis by Misty Heggeness; Expert Opportunity Report, at-home video recording opportunities (November 1, 2026) and how to read an AI expert job listing (November 11, 2026).
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. The information provided is based on publicly available sources and should not be considered professional advice. Opportunities, conditions, and outcomes may vary. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals when appropriate.
