Pit Stops and Scenic Routes: How to Aid Women to Stay on Track in Their Careers

Abstract

Since 2000, the percentage of married mothers with infants and small children in the workforce has fallen an average of 5 percent. Should we care if women leave the workforce? If talented women choose to “off ramp,” their participation in public life is gone, along with their talents and their ability to positively impact society. Once they leave, they usually cannot regain the income or status they had. Women lose an average of 18 percent of their earning power when they temporarily leave the workforce, with women in professional sectors losing a greater percentage. Despite the media talk of “on ramps,” only 40 percent of high-powered professional women get back to full-time work after taking leave, usually at a significant pay reduction. With engineers in demand, many employers are finding it very important to lure “off-ramped” talent back into the workforce. This article explores potential solutions with a focus on policies that allow women and men the flexibility that life sometimes demands, be it time for young children, getting an advanced degree, or caring for an aging parent.