Getting more women into flexible work

We’ve heard that the UK is missing out on up to £170bn worth of economic benefits by not having enough women in employment. To match the output of countries like Sweden, more has to be done to create flexible work for women.

When organisations begin to offer more roles with flexible hours through part-time or job sharing positions, the UK will see an increase in female employment levels. The Office of National Statistics data also shows there are over 1.5m professional women in the UK who want to work more hours than they currently do – they just can’t without greater flexibility.

A conflict of interests for working mums

It’s still the case that mothers with young children are a third less likely to be in work than fathers. Amongst the challenges mums face is the availability of affordable childcare as highlighted by celebrities like Davina McCall and Keira Knightley in recent interviews. In many cases full-time childcare can cost more than a parents’ post-tax income, making work uneconomical. It’s a frustrating situation that needs addressing.

Ten2Two research also shows that women working full-time, with young children in full-time childcare, experience real challenges in managing and balancing work and family. They often feel they have to compromise on both fronts and therefore don’t do either job as well as they could.

Around 75% of working women with children are the primary carers, so until the recent shared parental leave legislation matures and workplace attitudes change, it’s still a female issue.

Starting school spells new opportunity

Many parents’ situations alter when their children start full-time education: mums who’ve taken time out to start a family begin to turn their attention to making a return to the workplace. The predictable hours, boosted by a widening range of breakfast and after-school activities, creates more space for work.

Flexible and part-time jobs for mums

For over six million women in the UK, flexible working is the perfect solution. And for women with professional skills and experience, flexible and part-time jobs for mums allow them to re-enter the workplace, continue their career, use and maintain their hard-won skills and experience, whilst caring for their families – a situation many didn’t think possible.

Arranging working hours around the school day hours, or working several full-days a week with less childcare support, makes work a viable option. Many parents in this situation also prefer to work locally, so flexible or part-time jobs for mums need to be close to home.

Long commutes and the unpredictability of travel – think leaves on the line, train commuters – can make balancing childcare and work more than difficult.

These jobs do exist – and we at Ten2Two, know where they are.

Register to find flexible work today

Ten2Two is a flexible recruitment agency connecting career professionals with local businesses seeking to fill part-time and flexible roles. We also support our Members with free professional development events such as CV writing, presentation skills, social media and networking.

To find your next role, why not register with our flexible recruitment experts today. We’re across the southeast, so take a look at our website to find your nearest office.

Let’s get more mums back into work and beat the UK’s hidden brain drain together.