New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that new mothers have been dropping out of the workforce--at least temporarily--at an increasingly higher rate, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The percentage of married mothers of infants in the workforce dropped from 59 percent in 1997 to 51 percent in 2004, according to the soon-to-be-released BLS data, the newspaper reports. The BLS data suggests that the average length of time away from work for new mothers tends to be 1 to 3 years, which is shorter than longer breaks from work in the past.

Women with a bachelor's degree or higher are most likely to drop out of the workforce. However, the Journal notes that the decline in workforce participation among new mothers is taking place at all income and education levels, even though the loss of income is often "bringing some households to a financial standstill."

Reasons the newspaper cited for why women drop out of the workforce include the cost of childcare and desire to nurture babies in their first years, but other reasons are workplace/employer-related. These include lack of extended maternity leave, lack of flexible return-to-work options, and the mother's decision to switch to a more family-friendly career.