KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute is shedding light on the economic and health challenges facing mothers across the Granite State, from rising child care costs to poverty and barriers to health care access.

During a recent appearance on WKBK Radio’s “Good Morning with Dan Mitchell,” Jessica Williams, a senior policy analyst with NHFPI, discussed findings from the organization’s Mother’s Day-themed report examining the income, workforce participation and well-being of New Hampshire mothers.

Williams said mothers with children under 18 make up about 13% of New Hampshire’s labor force, although participation rates vary depending on the ages of their children. Mothers with younger children are less likely to be working, she said, often because of the high cost and limited availability of childcare.

The report found that childcare costs for an infant and a 4-year-old in New Hampshire can total nearly $33,000 annually, creating financial pressures that can make it more economical for one parent to remain out of the workforce.

Williams noted that approximately 20,000 Granite Staters were out of the workforce between 2020 and 2024 because of child care constraints.

The report also highlighted significant poverty disparities among family types. According to Williams, 23% of single female-headed households with children in New Hampshire live in poverty, compared with 7% of all family households and just 2% of married-couple households.

Dan Mitchell and Williams also discussed how time spent outside the workforce can affect women’s long-term financial stability, including future Social Security benefits. Williams said women are more likely to take on unpaid caregiving roles and often earn less than men, which can compound the economic effects of stepping away from work for extended periods.

The discussion also focused on paid family leave and health care coverage for new mothers.

Williams said 52% of mothers in New Hampshire took paid leave following childbirth in 2023, while 54% took unpaid leave and 7% took no leave at all. She said participation in the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program remains low, with only about 3% of Granite State workers enrolled in 2025.

Williams cited lack of awareness, affordability concerns and access issues as barriers to participation in the program.

The report found Medicaid plays a major role in maternal health care in New Hampshire, financing roughly 21% to 24% of prenatal and postpartum services for new mothers.

Williams also discussed barriers to postpartum mental health care, saying many mothers struggle to obtain needed services because of long wait times, lack of information and time constraints. About 70% of mothers reported receiving needed mental health care after childbirth, according to the report.

She added that NHFPI plans additional research later this year examining the challenges faced by Granite Staters who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance after the end of expanded federal health care subsidies.

Mitchell encouraged listeners to learn more about NHFPI reports and data at NHFPI.org.

Listen to the full interview: