3 in 10 Hong Kong firms to hire more returning working mothers this year

Mothers know best, indeed.

New research by global workplace provider Regus has revealed that 32% of businesses in Hong Kong are planning to hire more returning mothers in 2015 than in 2014.

According to a release from Regus, the figures are significantly higher than the global average of 26%. The global study surveyed more than 44,000 senior business people across more than 100 countries, including 365 respondents from Hong Kong.

According to the global survey, returning mothers play an important role in the overall economy by contributing to boosting GDP through increased female participation in the labour force.

This is particluarly true for cities like Hong Kong where the workforce will start shrinking in three years, from 3.71 million workers in 2018 to a projected 3.52 million in 2031, according to The Hong Kong Government latest statistics.

Here's more from Regus:

Against this backdrop, bringing mothers back into the workforce has become an imperative for Hong Kong businesses. According to a 2012 government census survey, the city has about 500,000 stay-at-home mothers, of whom 8% - about 40,000 - said that they would consider returning to work if the right support was given.

The contrasting demands of motherhood and work are one of the main reasons women drop out of the workforce. To combat this phenomenon, respondents in Hong Kong and around the world emphasised the important role that flexible working plays in attracting female talent; in fact, 83% of respondents believe that flexible working is key to attracting and retaining women workers.

The research also highlights the fact that returning mothers are particularly valued by businesses globally because of their experience and skillset, as well as reliability and excellent time management.

Additionally, returning mothers are seen as less likely to change jobs, saving firms the cost of recruitment and re-training. Previous Regus research further confirms that 57% of businesses think that retaining working mothers helps improve productivity as training costs are lower than hiring new employees.