Are you a new mom getting ready to head back into the workforce? Are you feeling a little scared and intimidated by what awaits and whether or not you will be successful? These are normal feelings and worries to have, especially if you’ve been away for an extended period. This is even more so the case if you plan on changing careers now that you’re going back to work, as it adds a new dimension of learning, responsibility and adapting to a new role.

Here we’ll take a look at four common challenges new moms face heading back into the workforce, as well as some tips to overcome them.

Some Jobs Have Transitioned to a Remote Environment

When the pandemic first began in 2020, many employers were faced to move to a remote environment, where employees could work from home. Over the past two years, many businesses have been able to re-open to in-person workforces, but then some have chosen to remain online. This has resulted in a changing landscape where the remote workforce has grown, likely permanently.

Depending on the job and career path that interests you, it may be that you’ll be working from home. Working from home has a huge list of pros but there are also some cons too, so being realistic about what lies ahead will help you to plan.

Some of the challenges in working from home as a mom include:

What will you do with the kids? Having them at home with you while you work can make for an impossible situation.
What will your hours be? Will you be expected to be available outside of typical office hours?
Can you create a home office space with ease? Will it be a comfortable, private, and productive space?
Do you have the equipment you need to do your job? If not, will your employer be supplying it for you?
Will there be any in-office hours required?
What happens if you need tech support?

These are questions that will be important to ask of your employer before you decide to take the remote position.

Do You Need to Re-Train or Learn New Skills?

Another challenge that exists is the potential need to re-train or learn new skills and techniques before you can enter back into the workforce. It could be that your old job has changed over time; again, this is more likely if you took an extended leave, or perhaps you’re eyeing a new career altogether. The sooner you can address this challenge, the smoother things will be for you in terms of re-entering the workforce.

Changing careers is something that many find intimidating. It’s very easy to get comfortable in a job and start to forget how hard it can be to make a change. But if you’ve reached the point where you want something different, it can be wise to speak to a professional for advice and support.

Placement’s series on working parents can be very helpful in this regard as it tackles some of the most pressing issues, concerns, fears, and confusion that working parents face. It covers such issues as how you can change careers, tips for new moms heading back to work, working from home, and so much more. The idea is that you can use Placement’s professional coaches to help expand your horizons and find that dream career.

Some Careers are Trending More than Others

Then there is the fact that some careers are trending more than others, meaning there are more opportunities. Your original career path may not be experiencing job growth, which can make heading back to the workforce extremely challenging.

So, what’s the solution to this problem? It can be helpful to do some research on where the trends are right now. Which industries have promise? Which are growing? Which show future growth, and which careers are in demand? Choosing an industry that is growing also means you can open the door to promotions and work your way up the career ladder.

Some of the trending careers for 2024 and beyond include:

Data scientist
Market research analyst
Cybersecurity specialist
Nurse practitioner
Home healthcare worker/aide
Occupational therapy assistant
Machine learning engineer (AI)

There Are High Turnover Rates Across the Country

The turnover rate in all industries is also something to be aware of as you prepare to re-enter the workforce. While you may not think this affects you, high turnover can disrupt an entire company. If the company finds it hard to retain staff and there are constant jobs that are open, it means everyone else needs to pick up the slack. That means more work and more responsibilities on your plate.

Constant disruption in a company negatively affects workflow, productivity, team morale, costs, and profits. It can make for a challenging environment to work in, and unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about it. Employers need to work on doing a better job retaining talent and creating the kind of workplace that people want to stick around.

If you are aware of a particular company having a high turnover rate, this should be seen as a red flag. Remember, it will have a trickle-down effect on you, which means it may not be your ideal job. Finding a company that values its employees, offers competitive compensation, and creates the kind of unified workplace that people want to be in should be a top priority. Before you accept any job offer, be sure to do some research on the company itself. Online reviews from previous employees can be helpful and provide you with insight.

The fact is that there will always be challenges in the workforce. It doesn’t matter if you’ve temporarily stepped away or not, trends happen, challenges pop up, and things evolve. This is why it’s important to stay flexible, learn to go with the flow and try to adapt the best you can to an ever-changing landscape.

4 Challenges New Moms Face Heading Back into the Workforce in 2025