FutureWire - futurism and emerging technology

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

"Mommy Track" Poses Challenges for Women, Employers

For the past several years, increasing numbers of professional women have been choosing to take breaks from their careers to raise their children. This is becoming a noticeable problem in fields that are experiencing labor shortages, such as in healthcare.

Problems also arise when these women re-enter the workforce. According to a survey by the Forte Foundation, women re-entering the workforce have trouble finding jobs and pay scales equivalent to what they had before they left. The survey also found that these women often preferred fewer hours and lighter workloads. At a time when widespread labor shortages are forecast for the next several years, employers may need to be extra creative if they plan to attract and keep happy these returning "mommy trackers."

Source: Herman Trend Alert