TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- New survey results from one of the web's leading remote job boards show the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on working parents and their quests for reliable, flexible remote work.
Founded in 2007, Virtual Vocations is a family-owned, 100% virtual company that has worked to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings from expert-vetted employers for the last 14 years.
This year, as part of the company's sixth annual National Work and Family Month celebration, Virtual Vocations surveyed more than 250 parents, each interested in new remote job options, to learn more about what's driving their job searches and what they're looking for in their new work from home careers.
The results, released Monday, paint a picture of a workforce eager to take advantage of the flexibility and autonomy that remote work can provide.
"As a parent who has worked remotely since my children were young, the value of schedule flexibility and autonomy over my work hours has been key in my success as both a mother and a professional," said Virtual Vocations CEO and co-founder Laura Spawn. "In today's tech-driven world, parents should not have to choose between supporting their children versus keeping their jobs, especially when it has been proven time and again that they can accomplish their work and maintain high career productivity levels at the same time."
Respondents' answers to the survey were divided into two groups: parents who reported being out of work at the time of the poll and parents who were currently employed but would prefer a new job.
Among respondents currently out of work:
- Nearly half (48.72%) have been out of work for less than six months. Another 28.21% have been out of work for at least one year.
- A full 47.56% are experienced professionals. Only about 16% classified themselves as entry-level workers.
- More than 71% have earned some level of professional or advanced degree or certification.
These parents were looking for roles in industries including information technology (IT), healthcare, and customer service or tech support—and though they each reported having a minor child living at home, only about 10% were hesitant about talking on the phone for work. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents who reported being out of work (89.93%) said they would agree to make work calls from home, at least during certain times of the day.
The same was true for employed parents searching for new remote jobs: More than 90% said they would take calls from home as part of their workday.
But perhaps the most striking similarity between the two groups is the role the ongoing pandemic has played in their job searches. Parents in both groups cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the No. 1 reason they want to work remotely.
"Parents who have recently experienced the benefits that remote work offers them and their children, in large part due to COVID-19 restrictions, are now considering how to make the best of both work and parenting responsibilities on a long-term basis through continued remote work," Spawn explained. "This shift should be welcome to employers who support mental health and employees' personal values as crucial aspects of retaining top talent and a thriving workforce."
For those who are out of work, roughly one-third (33.90%) said the pandemic is the primary reason they're currently unemployed.
Another 50% of respondents currently out of work are seeking full-time remote employment. More than 60% of employed parents who would prefer a different job said the same.
Employed parents were also more likely to report looking for a permanent remote position and were more open to business travel. The survey found:
- Nearly three-quarters (72.13%) of working parents would agree to periodic or annual travel to work or attend on-site events. Less than 28% said they would not want to travel.
- Among parents who are unemployed, 64.65% said they would be willing to travel for work on occasion, while 35.34% said they would not.
The survey also revealed that for many parents, having the ability to work while their children are in school is an important factor as they narrow down their job options. Roughly 1 in 3 parents in both groups said they plan to clock in while their kids are in school, and most would prefer to work morning hours.
For Spawn and many other parents, it's the focus on flexibility and work-life balance that makes working remotely so appealing. "Working from home throughout my children's formative years allowed me to be there when they needed me, not just when I was available," Spawn said, "and there is a big difference between the two."
Virtual Vocations' 2021 Parent Remote Job Search Survey, conducted Oct. 11–13, 2021, polled 258 adults who were either out of work or interested in a new job and who reported having at least one child under 18 living at home with them.
To view the full results of the survey, visit: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/annual-statistical-remote-work-reports/parent-remote-job-search-survey-results-2021/
ABOUT VIRTUAL VOCATIONS
Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and her brother, CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a small company with a big mission: to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings. To date, Virtual Vocations has helped more than four million jobseekers in their quests for flexible, remote work.
In addition to providing a database that houses more than 30,000 current, hand-screened remote job openings at any given time, Virtual Vocations offers jobseekers a number of tools to aid in their job searches, including exclusive e-courses and downloadable content, and resumé writing services. Virtual Vocations also releases several data-driven reports each year on current trends in remote work.
Virtual Vocations, Inc. is a private, family-owned, and 100% virtual company incorporated in Tucson, Arizona.
PRESS INQUIRIES
Michelle Rawlings
michelle(at)virtualvocations(dot)com
1 (800) 379-5092 ext. 703
VirtualVocations.com
Media Contact
Michelle E. Rawlings, Virtual Vocations, Inc., 1 (800) 379-5092 x. 703, [email protected]
SOURCE Virtual Vocations, Inc.
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