A large majority of stay-at-home moms have faced or expect to face issues when seeking to reenter the workforce, according to a survey by Indeed. Of those surveyed, 93% said they had experienced or anticipated experiencing challenges reentering the workforce.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said employers view time taken to stay at home as a résumé or employment gap, according to the report. While 53% reported they are worried employers will not see their time as a stay-at-home mom as valuable work experience, 54% said they are having difficulty finding a job that accommodates their caregiving responsibilities. In addition, 53% believe potential employers undervalue their skills due to their time as stay-at-home moms.
“Stay-at-home moms are a massively underutilized part of the population, yet are extremely hard working and adaptable,” said Kristen Shah, career trends expert at Indeed.
“The workforce has changed significantly since the start of the pandemic, and employers/job seekers alike are adjusting their preferences with work and talent attraction,” Shah said. “We see an opportunity for stay-at-home moms looking to reenter the workforce to position their skills in a way that will resonate with employers.”
However, despite the crossover between the skills and responsibilities of stay-at-home moms and various workforce positions, 73% of women reentering the workforce reported encountering biases in the hiring process. In addition, 40% of respondents feel their contributions are more appreciated at home than in the workplace.