Most Women Aren’t “Opting Out” of the Workforce

Contrary to numerous reports that imply women are “opting out” of the workforce in large numbers, a study of professional women released recently finds that the great majority of those women are negotiating flexible work arrangements as a way to remain in the workplace, while continuing to see their incomes grow. Study authors say women are leading the way to a new career model for women and men.

The study found that more than 90% of the women surveyed have used some kind of flexible work arrangements during their careers; 88 percent of them used flexible work arrangements at some point in their careers to remain employed full-time while managing complex lives.

Professor Mary Shapiro of the Simmons School of Management in Boston, lead study author, said the study showed that “women are leading the way in how all employees in the future will take more control over managing their careers. They are shifting the career paradigm.”