Study: Stay-At-Home Mothers On The Rise

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- More mothers are hanging up their work outfits and staying home to raise their children, according to a new study.

A new Pew Research Center study showed 29 percent of mothers with children younger than 18 stayed at home in 2012. That's up from a low of 23 percent in 1999.

Most of them had working husbands. The center said the change has more to do with money than a cultural shift.

Researchers said while the causes are debated, the survey data did not indicate the dip would become a plunge.  Most mother said they would like to work, part or full time but they can't find jobs. Six percent fell into that category in 2012. That's up from one percent in 2000.

The survey also found mothers at home are younger and less educated than their working counterparts. Fifty one percent of moms who hadn't finished high school did not work outside the home, compared to 21 percent of college graduates.

The study also found stay-at-home mothers spent an average of 18 hours a week on child care while working mothers spent 11 hours a week. That is a seven hour difference.

As for stay at home fathers, researchers said while they were not the focus of the report, the represent a small but growing share of stay-at-home parents.