This study assessed mothers' employment experiences and links with children's long‐term cognitive achievement and socio‐emotional adjustment using a representative sample of low‐income mothers and children (N = 538) from the Three‐City Study. Maternal employment involvement, quality, and stability were assessed over a 2‐year period when children were aged 24 to 48 months. Cluster analysis of the employment characteristics yielded 4 distinct employment patterns differing by the quality and stability of employment. OLS regression analyses linking these employment patterns with children's functioning at age 9 revealed that high‐quality stable employment was associated with enhanced cognitive skills and behavioral functioning among children. Further analysis suggested the significance of mothers' consistent insurance benefits to the long‐term well‐being of their children.