77% of Mothers in the UAE would choose to go back to work after having children according to a recent survey by Mums@Work in association with YouGov.

I applaud the initiative taken by Mums@Work and their findings have definitely struck a cord with me. This is more so because of my own experience and decision of being a Stay At Home Mum after giving birth to Baby Z. 

Below I have inserted more information, provided to me by House of Comms, regarding this great initiative:

“Yesterday saw the official launch of Mums@Work in the UAE, giving mums the opportunity to revitalise their careers and connect with employers across the region. Interestingly when focusing on mothers aged between 30-39 years old, this statistic increased to 88% of mothers who had either returned or were eager to get back to work. It also revealed that 49% of mums looking to return to work would only do so if there were flexible or part time working options available.

The biggest barrier for mums returning to the workplace was flexibility, with more than 38% of women claiming that they couldn’t juggle family and workplace commitments.

According to the research carried out by Mums@Work, the number one driver for mums returning to work was financial stability, with 19% returning for the independence that comes with employment.

Backed by one of the largest independent recruitment firms in the GCC – Mackenzie Jones, Mums@Work is the first company of its kind in the Middle East, focused on helping mums to revitalise their careers and guiding them to the jobs they want. Tapping into the wealth of talent and connecting mums with potential employers who are looking to fill full-time and part-time roles.

Louise Karim, Managing Director of Mums@Work commented on the launch: “The findings are extremely interesting and further strengthen our commitment to providing a platform that gives the 77% of mothers across the UAE the opportunities that they are looking for. Mums@Work brings a solution that so many mothers, not to mention employers, are crying out for.

In a market like the UAE it is great to see how many senior positions women and more to the point, women with children, hold. There is a wealth of women in this market who have taken time off to raise their children and after either a short or extended break, are not sure of the best route back to their chosen profession; that also suits their family. This research shows the sheer volume of women looking to return to work after having children and the key driver of this being financial stability.

“Mums@Work is here to help. We are not only connecting candidates and clients – we go way beyond this. We are here to guide, mentor and ensure that these women have the skills and confidence they need to get the jobs they want. We also want to make sure that they have the choices and right working hours to suit their families. Gone are the days when women have to choose between and family and their careers.”

David Mackenzie, Founder at Mums@Work added: “To me it is madness that we didn’t come up with the Mums@Work concept years ago, and the research findings further highlight the need for such a service in today’s climate. There is such a huge wealth of talent in the form of women who have had successful careers and have chosen to dedicate time to their families. Our experience in the market backed by research has shown us that often after the first few years, once children start nursery/school, mothers are looking for opportunities to revitalise their careers and get back into the workplace, but with hours to suit them. There are also an increasing number of employers looking for highly skilled employees who are flexible in their work patterns.

“Inline with the UAE’s commitment to gender equality and diversity, as outlined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mums@Work offers the perfect solution; an answer to the war on talent, while bringing significant savings to employers – who can hire employees on a part-time, as opposed to full-time basis. Everyone wins and we see an influx of talent to the job market.”

Those looking to register their interest, whether as a candidate or client can visit: [email protected] ”

Personal Thoughts on Mums@Work:

For me personally, I believe so strongly in this because though I am content and happiest now that I am a Stay at Home Mum to my little boy, I know I would have welcomed the idea of a choice and a platform that was more welcoming of new first time mothers wishing to go back to work. I also know of mothers myself who would have greatly benefited from this scheme if it was launched earlier.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my baby boy grow up in front of me, however I will not say that my decision of giving up my teaching job was easy. You can read more about my sentiments in the post Deciding to be a Stay at Home Mum, which was so difficult for me to write at that point. I am so grateful for finding the creative outlet that is this blog, which lets me be independent as well as spend time with my son that I know I will never get back. Every mother has her own decisions to make after the birth of her child about whether or not she will be returning to work, however the main point is making that decision easier for Mums, and for having a choice in it, rather than feeling like we HAVE to do one or the other.

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Information courtesy of House of Comms, Image courtesy of Mums@Work.