What do women returners want?

Getting back into work after a career break can feel a bit daunting. In aid of understanding what women returners want, we surveyed over a thousand potential “women returners” who had taken a career break of a year or more, and were seeking flexible work. We found that while there is a high demand for “women returner programmes” among those who have taken a long career break, the overwhelming majority are looking to return to part-time or flexible work.

Key findings:

The context

Of the women we surveyed:

• 71% took a break of at least one year. 42% took 2 years or more
• Only 26% returned to work with the same employer
• 58% had chosen to return to work on a part-time basis
• 63% of those returning to a part-time job had taken a lower salary than in their previous role
• 60% of part-time returners and over half of full-time returners feel they have fallen behind in their careers and would like to get back on track.

What do women returners want?

Of the women we surveyed:

• 93% of career break women wanted to return to a part-time job.
• 45% are interested in returner programmes.
• 70% want the returner programme to result in a flexible job, compared to 13% wanting a full-time job.
• 49% want the returner programme to update their knowledge of industry sector trends
• 47% want the returner programme to be confidence building

Timewise’s recommendations to employers

As there is little interest in returning to full-time work, employers should open up to flexible hiring, so they can offer appropriate flexible working arrangements. More specifically, employers should consider whether a 4 day working week can be accommodated, as this is the most preferred working pattern.

Published October 2015