Health and access to quality healthcare are foundational drivers of economic mobility, shaping opportunities and outcomes across a lifetime. But maternal-mortality rates are two to four times higher for Black women relative to other demographic groups.
And mortality is only part of the story.
As my colleagues at the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the McKinsey Health Institute have shown in their latest research, Black American women experience a disproportionate share of maternal-health challenges during childbirth, which can profoundly affect both their well-being and their ability to invest in their families and communities. These disparities are not improving, and they ripple through the next generation: Black infants are more likely to be born prematurely, face higher developmental challenges, and die at nearly twice the national infant mortality rate.
Families, communities, and societies bear the deepest loss when mothers do not survive childbirth. Beyond the immeasurable human cost, these tragedies create lasting consequences: communities lose contributors to their social fabric, and opportunities for the next generation are diminished. The effects extend outward too. Businesses and communities absorb the economic fallout through lost productivity, higher healthcare expenditures from preventable complications, and reduced educational and career trajectories for children whose early health outcomes shape their futures.
Addressing these inequities is more than a health intervention; it is an investment in the workforce that powers the economy. The research suggests that narrowing the maternal and infant health gaps to the U.S. average could mean the survival of as many as 35,000 Black children and 3,100 mothers by 2040—strengthening families, building healthier communities, and unlocking economic potential across generations.
Here are a few steps that would go a long way toward achieving it.
Improve data collection. Inconsistent maternal health data across states is not just a medical gap, it’s a missed opportunity to improve lives and economies. Without standardized definitions and integrated data systems, policymakers and providers struggle to identify what works and scale it. That fragmentation can lead to inefficiency, waste, and slower innovation.
Improving race- and ethnicity-based data could create a stronger evidence base for insurers, health systems, and employers designing maternal health programs. McKinsey estimates that US women who give birth in 2025 could live a cumulative 5.5 million years with disability due to maternal-health challenges. Reducing that burden would mean higher workforce participation, lower long-term care costs, and stronger economic contributions from women and their families.
Invest in research. Maternal health remains under-researched compared to other therapeutic areas, and the pharmaceutical pipeline is thin—just 91 compounds in development, versus thousands for areas like neurology or dermatology. Maternal health cannot be improved if it is not studied, and the fact is that pregnancy-related conditions are under-researched. The Lancet, a British medical journal, concluded last year: “A lack of innovation for maternal health medicines persists, and the market continues to fail pregnant individuals.”
This underinvestment represents a tragic loss for society—costing lives, well-being, and the strength of communities. It also reflects untapped economic potential. For businesses and investors, supporting maternal health innovation is not only a moral imperative but also an opportunity to unlock new markets while addressing one of the most critical social needs of our time.
Expanding representation of Black women in clinical trials, as Yale’s Cultural Ambassador Program has demonstrated, not only improves equity but also strengthens the scientific rigor of new treatments. A more inclusive R&D ecosystem ensures products are more effective across diverse populations—boosting adoption, outcomes, and returns.
Expand care: Access to quality pre- and postnatal care is foundational to both maternal survival and infant outcomes. Today, gaps in coverage, whether through higher uninsured rates among Black women or limited Medicaid participation from providers, translate directly into higher mortality, higher costs, and lower economic mobility.
For businesses, the equation is clear: healthier mothers mean more stable families and more resilient employees. Improving access to timely prenatal care, incentivizing providers to accept Medicaid, and experimenting with innovative models like telehealth in maternal health deserts can lower downstream costs, reduce absenteeism, and build stronger local economies. While the national outlook is uncertain, states can take useful action on their own, for example by giving immediate Medicaid coverage for pregnant women while their applications are processed; this makes timely prenatal care possible. Colorado, for example, is experimenting with raising Medicaid payments for hospitals that demonstrate they are improving maternal and perinatal care.
Every maternal or infant death is a human tragedy, and changing course will require bold, unified action. By committing to better data, stronger research, and more equitable access to care, business leaders and policymakers can honor the social contract: protecting families, strengthening communities, and fostering opportunity for generations to come.
This is our shared obligation, and it is also our shared opportunity. Acting now affirms the values that bind us together and builds a healthier, more prosperous society for all.