More fathers using paid family leave in states that offer it, sometimes exceeding maternal use
Confirmed1 source · Oct 25, 2026
As the U.S. lacks national paid parental leave law, states with such benefits are seeing increased uptake among fathers.
What happened
In states with paid family leave programs, more fathers are taking the benefit for new babies, with some using it as much as or more than mothers.
Context
The U.S. has no federal paid parental leave requirement, leaving such policies to individual states. This shift in paternal leave usage occurs against a backdrop of Americans reporting that having children is unaffordable, suggesting economic pressures are reshaping how families approach work and childcare around birth.