Ask workers what they want from a job role and a work/life balance is often top of the wish list. When it comes to women, they’re more likely to have caring responsibilities; whether they’re raising young children or helping out elderly parents, a work/life balance isn’t just a nice thing to have, it’s a necessity. That’s why remote working is on the rise, and it’s helping to close the gender gap in many professions. So, what are the most popular jobs for women who work at home?
1. IT and tech
The tech industry has long struggled with diversity and many workplaces are still mostly staffed by men. Globally, only about 20% of tech roles are filled by women, and as you get higher up the corporate structure, this percentage drops. However, remote working is helping to make the tech industry more diverse, as women who may feel threatened by male-dominated environments can work from their own homes. Since people in tech are already extremely IT literate, the thought of using remote software doesn’t phase them.
2. Your own business
Running your own business while might not necessarily be the first job you would consider, simply due to the hard work it will entail is a fantastic option for women who want to work from home. By setting up and running your own business, you can take the work/life balance to a whole new level and truly dictate your work around your life.
To ensure that this is a success, however, you will need to ensure that you are willing to put the work in. But coming up with a niche business angle, creating a website and selling your product or service can be difficult all by yourself. This is why it is useful to team up with an SEO or Pay Per Click Management Company. They will see to it that your business is marketed the right way and drive relevant traffic to your site.
3. Recruiters
Recruitment professionals used to work in offices and interview candidates face to face, but their roles have changed a lot over the years. Nowadays, they’re more likely to find candidates online, screen people through social media and interview them over Skype. Many recruiters never even meet their clients or candidates in real life, making it ideal as a remote job. It can also be quite flexible in terms of hours, as many candidates want to be interviewed outside of office hours, so it’s ideal for those with other commitments.
4. Consultants
A position that can be quite well paid and offer remote working is that of a consultant. Consultants work across all sorts of industries, so if you have a lot of experience in a certain profession, but need to switch to something more flexible, then becoming a consultant may work for you. Consultants often have to travel for meetings, but a lot of the hard work can be done in the comfort of your own home.
Women tend to have more caregiving responsibilities than men, which means that their careers can stall once they reach child-bearing age. This creates gender gaps in many industries but offering remote work and other things that close the work/life balance can level the playing field, which is good for employers as they have more skilled people to choose from.