The future of work is here – and working parents are powering it.

76% of working parents cite that becoming a parent boosted their motivation at work¹, which is good news for business, as 7 in 10 U.S. employees are caregivers and at the very heart of our workforce and economy.

At Best Place for Working Parents®, we know that supporting working parents is a smart business strategy. Companies that intentionally invest in family-friendly policies see measurable returns in productivity, engagement, and loyalty. They are also better positioned to adapt in an increasingly competitive and uncertain economic environment.

This year’s National Trends Report, informed by data from nearly 4,000 businesses, offers a clear view into how employers across industries and company sizes are evolving. Three insights stand out as especially important for leaders shaping the future of their workplaces.

1. Health care and child care benefits are inversely trending. Dependent health care benefits show signs of decline for the second year in a row, while child care benefits – especially child care assistance – continue to expand across businesses of all sizes. This divergence highlights the growing importance of child care as a driver of workforce participation.
2. Nursing benefits have reached a tipping point. With nearly 90% of businesses now offering nursing benefits, this policy is rapidly becoming a standard policy expectation. While adoption continues to grow steadily overall, year-to-year variation across industries signals that many organizations are still transitioning – making this a critical moment for leaders to evaluate and potentially strengthen this impactful postpartum support.
3. Family-friendly policies are increasingly being used as a competitive differentiator. We continue to see growth in Best Place for Working Parents® designations, particularly among micro and small businesses. Even amid market challenges, companies are largely retaining their family-friendly benefits – underscoring a shared understanding that these policies are essential investments in workforce stability and business performance.

Best Place for Working Parents® businesses are not simply reacting to workforce change – they are leading it. By designing workplaces that support working parents, they are building stronger businesses today and shaping the future of work for tomorrow.

We are proud to learn alongside this community of forward-thinking leaders and grateful to our regional partners and the nearly 3,000 designated businesses in the Best Place for Working Parents®. Together, we are proving that when working parents thrive, businesses do too.