Why women are finally returning to the office

As many offices are figuring out their return to work schedule, workers are getting themselves ready and looking their best to be back in person. There are a number of plastic surgery options such as the mommy makeover that are helping renew confidence in women. Should you consider plastic surgery? Learn more about your options in the infographic below.

Why Women Are Finally Returning To The Office

Nearly two million women disappeared from the workforce in 2020 — although research suggests they’re finally beginning to return

The Pandemic’s ‘Shecession’ Is Starting To Fade

In March 2023, more than 77.8 million women were active in the US workforce
- This number has topped pre-pandemic levels in February 2020 (77.6 million)
Labor force participation for women has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels
- March 2023: 57.2%
- February 2020: 57.9%
There are several factors involved in making this decision to return
- More reliable schooling options
- Fewer business or industry closures
- Improved public health outlook
Millions of growing industries are staffed by women all over the country
- Kindergarten and preschool teachers: 96.8% share of workers who are women
- Speech language pathologists: 95.1% share of workers who are women
- Licensed vocational nurses: 91.3% share of workers who are women

While some women feel prepared to return to the workforce, others face barriers that prevent them from taking next steps

Women Face Significant Barriers In Returning To Work

Ageism: 61% of US workers at or over 45 say they’ve witnessed or experienced ageism in the workplace
- Older female workers are more likely to be fired or let go by their employers
  - Endure more employment rejections than older men
  - Have less than half the callback rate of younger women
  - Face ageism bias at least five years earlier than men
- Caregiving responsibilities: Women are 5 to 8x more likely to have their careers impacted by caregiving than men
  - 32% of women say they need to be home to care for children and loved ones
  - 12% of women say the cost of caregiving has prevented them from seeking work
  - The cost of childcare exceeds the cost of college tuition in 28 states
  - Since the average annual female salary in 2023 is $47,616:
    - District of Columbia: $24,243 for childcare = ~51% of yearly earnings
    - Massachusetts: $20,913 for childcare = ~44% of yearly earnings
    - California: $16,945 for childcare = ~36% of yearly earnings
    - Minnesota: $16,087 for childcare = ~34% of yearly earnings
    - Connecticut: $15,591 for childcare = ~33% of yearly earnings
    - New York: $15,394 for childcare = ~32% of yearly earnings
    - Maryland: $15,335 for childcare = ~32% of yearly earnings
    - Colorado: $15,325 for childcare = ~32% of yearly earnings
    - Washington: $14,554 for childcare = ~31% of yearly earnings
    - Virginia: $14,063 for childcare = ~30% of yearly earnings
  - There are also 74,000 fewer childcare workers in 2023 than 2020, which means finding a reliable option isn’t always possible in more rural areas
- Lack of confidence: Nearly one in four (24%) of women feel that lack of confidence is their greatest stumbling block when returning to work
  - Two in four women say they don’t feel confident about work — whether they’re employed full-time, part-time, or still looking for work
  - There are two sides to this coin:
    - Career breaks: Taking time away to care for children or family members
      - 45% of women feel taking a career break damaged their career
        
        42% say they earn less than before
        
        37% feel less confident about their long-term earning potential
        
        29% feel sidelined or undervalued by their employers
      - Lookism: Pressure to maintain youthful beauty standards to keep a job
        
        Women are 2x more likely than men to feel pressure about dying their hair for work
        
        When a woman gains 64 pounds, her wage drops by 9%
        
        44% of women experience negative feelings when not wearing makeup

Despite the obstacles that stand in their way, women are fighting hard to reclaim their place on payroll

How Women Are Supporting Their Return To The Office

Finding professional mentorship
- 45% of women say they would feel less anxious at work if they could conquer self-doubt
- Tapping into professional mentorship can help to manage this imposter syndrome
  - Research shows mentorship can have a dramatic impact on:
    - Self-esteem
    - Promotion likelihood
    - Greater confidence
      - 87% of those mentored develop greater confidence at work
    - Pursuing hybrid roles
      - 21% of women say a lack of flexible or hybrid working roles has prevented them from seeking work in the past
      - The rise of hybrid roles allowed thousands of women to get back to work
        
        66% of women say hybrid work allows them to experience less bias
        
        67% of women say hybrid work has a positive impact on their career growth
        
        53% of caregiving women say flexible work helps them save money or spend more time with family
      - Reinvesting in themselves with plastic surgery
        
        More and more women want to regain confidence in their physical appearances, especially new mothers who struggle with body dysmorphia
        
        39% of new moms say they’re insecure about their post-baby bodies
        
        Today, women are feeling the freedom to invest in what matters to them
        
        One in four women are considering cosmetic procedures, including Mommy Makeovers
        
        These provide an opportunity to regain confidence in their physical appearance postpartum
        
        Women between the ages of 31 and 45 are requesting:
        
        Liposuctions
        
        Breast augmentations
        
        Tummy tucks
        
        Breast Lifts
        
        Brazilian Butt Lift
        
        This may have contributed to the 993,000 more mothers working in December 2022 than December 2021