Study: Setbacks for single parents at work | News

Getting a job is hard enough these days. You need the right qualifications, a stellar application and often the patience to get through multiple interviews. But for single parents, the challenge is even greater.

Imagine you've finally secured that coveted interview slot. The company's HR department sends you an email with the date and time, with no room for negotiation. For most people, this is a minor inconvenience. For single parents, it can be a deal breaker.

Careerminds, a global outplacement and career development company, recently shed some light on this issue. The company surveyed 3,000 single parents about their experiences in the job market, and the results are eye-opening. A staggering 52 percent of single parents in South Carolina have had to turn down promising career opportunities simply because companies wouldn't budge on interview times (compared to the national average of 44 percent).

So what's behind this worrying statistic? The survey went deeper and asked single parents about their biggest obstacles. Childcare turned out to be the main culprit: 68 percent cited it as the main barrier to attending interviews. School trips and extracurricular activities each accounted for 16 percent of missed opportunities. This is a stark reminder of the balancing act many single parents have to perform on a daily basis.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Some industries are showing their readiness. The technology sector, known for its innovation, is also leading the way in supporting single parents. Healthcare and education are close behind, with their shift work and coordination with school schedules proving beneficial. Hospitality and tourism have also been recognised for their flexible working hours.

So what do single parents in South Carolina want? First and foremost, flexibility. Forty percent said flexible scheduling would change everything. Twenty percent preferred virtual interviews because it eliminates the need for child care or travel. On-site child care was also a popular suggestion, with 31 percent considering it a possible solution.

The survey also touched on a sensitive topic: disclosure. While 42 percent of single parents never felt the need to hide their status when applying for jobs, others were less comfortable with this. The same number (16 percent each) said they always, often or sometimes felt pressure to hide their status as a single parent.

These challenges have far-reaching consequences. Almost two-thirds of single parents have considered not applying for a job because of expected scheduling conflicts. The same proportion had to arrange childcare at short notice in order to be able to attend a job interview.

Perhaps most worrying is the lack of alternatives offered by companies. When single parents had to forgo an interview, only 34 percent were offered an alternative solution or accommodation. The majority were left behind.

The survey also pointed to broader gender dynamics in the workplace. An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents believe that single mothers in leadership roles face a steeper climb than their male counterparts. In addition, 51 percent think that companies make more effort to place single mothers in senior positions than those lower down the corporate ladder.

“It's clear that the job market still has a long way to go to meet the unique needs of single parents,” says Raymond Lee of Careerminds. “While some sectors are making progress, there is a pressing need for more flexible, understanding approaches across the board.”