According to the latest federal figures, 70.5 percent of American women with children under 18 work outside the home - including 60 percent of mothers with children under 3.

Not surprisingly, a Pew Research Center survey, being released tis week, found that only 21 percent of working mothers with children under 18 viewed full-time work as the best arrangement, down from 32 percent in 1997.

Sixty percent of the working mothers stated their preference that a part-time job would be best, up rom 48 percent 10 years ago.

Cary Funk,- a Pew researcher on the survey, said the trend reflected women's latest thoughts on the ideal arrangement for their children.

"I don't think it means people are going to give up their jobs," she said. It's more of an expression of the difficulties of combining responsibilities at work and home."

Source: Associated Press 7.16.07