Working mothers sought after by employers

THEY’VE been unfairly discriminated against by employers in the past, but it seems members of this demographic are now in hot demand.

WORKING mums are in demand, with job recruiters reporting a spike in companies listing mothers as their top picks for positions.

Workible, which handles 20,000 jobseekers each week, has reported a 100 per cent rise in companies seeking mothers for job roles in the past year.

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The in-and-out, get-the-job-done approach of many working mothers was being recognised as an asset to business, Workible director Fiona Anson said.

“Almost one-quarter of the 300 companies we deal with at Workible request mothers for positions,” she said.

“While some mums find it hard to find work that fits around their kids, it seems there is an increasing number of companies happy to work around them to get their knowledge, experience, loyalty and mature attitudes.”

The most relevant industries were retail and office administration, Ms Anson said.

Employment Office managing director Tudor Marsden-Huggins said many firms wanted mums with good credentials.

“Not all industries can offer flexibility but … working mums value working for companies who are prepared to work around them and they are more than happy to pay back that loyalty,” he said.

Originally published as Working mothers sought after by employers