Working Mums' Day Survey Results

As we celebrate working mums day, take a look at the results of our survey

• More than an a quarter of respondents were the family's main breadwinner, which if combined with those who share the family finances with their partner accounts for nearly three in every four respondents.  Only one in four work to provide luxuries for the family.
• One in three respondents work full time and one in two either run their own businesses or are self-employed.  Less than a quarter work part time.
• Of those who run their own business, 65% stated they did so in order to have more flexibility to spend time with their family/children.  While a quarter stated it was for financial reasons in order to earn what they feel they are worth.
• Four in five of those who run their own business said that since working for themselves their work life balance had improved.
• More than half said that they felt more secure running their own business in the current climate, and two in five actually said their profits had increased over the last 12-18 months, with 40% saying that it was because they had been more focused on what they needed to achieve.
• Of those who don't currently work for someone else, the key incentive to set up their own business would be the opportunity to work flexibly, and nearly 70% said that if they had a lump sum they would consider using it to set up their own business.
• Two in three said that having the opportunity to choose how to manage their working life and family life, is the most important to them as a working mum, while four in five said that juggling involved as the most difficult aspect of being a working mum.
• Over the past twelve months, the perception of Government is unchanged - with three quarters saying not enough is done for women entrepreneurs.
• The number who feel that British Business is not committed to flexible working has increased - from three quarters in 2008 to 86% in 2009!
• There was a slight increase in the number who said that working mums have to accept that their careers will have to take a back seat while their children are young.
• Nearly half said that the reason for the increased number of working mums going into business for themselves was that it is the only way that they can achieve flexibility, with nearly a third saying that the attitude towards women with children in the workplace had prevented career progression.

Mums in Control, Celebrate Working Mums Survey 2009 was carried out via Survey Monkey.  A sample of 1120 working mums aged 16 and 64 were questioned between 24th July and 21st August 2009.