The first report to provide bonding leave data by gender in all operational state paid leave programs finds that men’s use of paid leave has grown powerfully and in some states is equal to or greater than mother’s use of paid parental leave.
Washington, D.C. — Today Paid Leave for All released “Progress to Paternity Parity: Dads & Bonding Leave in State Paid Leave Programs,” the first report to provide data by gender among bonding leave claimants in all 10 operational state paid leave programs, including not previously released data from several states. Contrary to reports that men aren’t using paid leave, this study found that men’s use of paid leave has grown powerfully over time and in eight of 10 state paid leave programs, men are taking or seeking at least 40% of leaves to bond with a new child.
The report also shows that in the newest programs, men’s use of bonding leave was equal or even more than women’s use of leave. Meanwhile, in the older state paid leave programs, men’s usage has increased dramatically — 384% since the launch of California’s state program, for instance.
“Paid leave is a game changer for families. When fathers have the option to be there for their babies during the most important stages of life, they show up — and the data proves it,” said Congressional Dads Caucus Chairman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). “That’s why expanding and investing in paid leave programs is the smart, family-first thing to do.”
“Where states give them the opportunity to do so, more and more dads are taking paid leave to welcome a new child. All dads—and all parents–deserve that chance to be there when it matters most,” said Molly Weston Williamson, the report’s author and Paid Leave for All advisor.
Other key findings include:
- Fathers and mothers are approaching parity in taking or applying for bonding leave in most state paid leave programs.
- Men took or applied for 40% or more of the leaves to bond with a new child in eight of ten state paid family and medical leave programs in the last full year of available data.
- In Washington, more men than women had approved bonding leave claims in 2024 (55.3% to 44.7%), while in Colorado bonding leave claims were split essentially evenly.
- Compared to early state paid family leave programs, newer programs are launching with much greater proportions of men taking bonding leave.
- In the first full calendar year of the two oldest paid family leave programs, men made up 18% of bonding leave applications in California (2005) and 11% of eligible bonding leave claimants (2010).
- In contrast, in the two most recently launched programs, men made up 43% of bonding leave claims in Oregon (started September 2023) and 50% of bonding leave claims in Colorado (started January 2024).
- In older programs, the number of fathers taking or applying for bonding leave has grown dramatically over time.
- Comparing fiscal year 2024 to calendar year 2005 in California, bonding claims from men increased 384%, while bonding claims from women increased by a much more modest 33%.
- In New Jersey, bonding claims by men have increased 410% from 2010 to 2023, compared to 56% growth in bonding claims from women.