Recent survey data reveals the pandemic's latest impact on working mothers.
TopResume, the world's largest resume-writing service, today announced its latest survey results, revealing that the careers of working mothers continue to suffer, even more than a year after the pandemic's start. Between March 8 and April 20, 2021, TopResume asked 1,508 women in the U.S. who identified as primary caregivers to children under the age of 18, “Are you planning to return to the workforce?”
In summary, 69% of working women said they planned to remain at home as a full-time caregiver for the time-being. Only 31% said they planned to return within the next 12 months. In addition, 55% of those still working said they would voluntarily leave their jobs, if given the option. To illustrate the year-long sentiment of job seekers — and the unique plight of working mothers — here is the latest infographic on “The Pandemic Effect.”
“The pandemic continues to wreak havoc on people's careers, but no one has been hit harder than working mothers, which is especially distressing since over a year has passed and the outlook should be more promising,” said Amanda Augustine, TopResume's career expert, a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and certified professional resume writer (CPRW). “Our latest findings reveal the next stage of workforce impact: Not only have working women left their jobs in droves, but nearly three out of four have no intention of returning any time soon — a grim outlook for employers who are ramping up for a post-pandemic workplace.”
When those who have left the workforce were asked the main reason why they are no longer working, the women respondents fell into one of two categories: either they lost their jobs due to the pandemic (30%) or they stopped working to accommodate their children (70%). In fact, of those who left the workforce involuntarily — meaning, they were laid off — only 14% were actively looking for work, while 16% had decided to put their careers on hold until the market improves and/or their kids went back to school, full-time.
“For more than a year, many working mothers across the U.S. have been required to reevaluate their priorities, particularly when it comes to what they want in their working lives. If and when they are ready to reenter the workforce, many will be searching for opportunities with new criteria. If employers want to reap the benefits that come with having a gender-balanced organization (i.e. increased profitability, creativity, and innovation), then they will need to commit to providing benefits and implementing programs that better accommodate and support mothers in the workplace.”
On an ongoing basis, the data science team at Talent Inc., the global leader in technology-enabled career services and also the parent company of TopResume, TopInterview, and TopCV, compiles nationwide data from their customers to better understand current behavioral trends in the job market. Visit TopResume's Career Advice blog to see their latest tips for coaching job seekers through their search.
About TopResume
TopResume, a Talent Inc. company, is the world's premier resume-writing service, analyzing millions of resumes and LinkedIn profiles each year. Job seekers work directly with professional writers and industry experts to redefine their personal brand and stand out from the crowd during the job-search process. Follow TopResume on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and visit TopResume to request a free confidential resume review.
