Work aspirations and experiences of lone mothers

A study carried out by the Employment and Training Corporation shows that lone mothers’ dependency on social benefits is linked to their difficulty in finding a stable job with good working conditions and by their perceived lack of academic qualifications and vocational skills. The study suggests a number of conditions that would enable more lone mothers to work, including flexible work organisation and affordable childcare.

About the study

In Malta, lone parenthood has been on the rise in recent years and lone parents have a higher chance of ending up in poverty than other families. Therefore, in 2007, the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) published a study on [Lone mothers on benefits – Their work aspirations and experiences (530Kb PDF)](http://www.etc.gov.mt/docs/Lone Mothers on Benefits draft 8 10 12 07.pdf). The study aims to define the work aspirations of lone mothers who are living on social benefits in Malta and to identify the factors that may be inhibiting them from searching for work and finding a job. The study also highlights the type of working conditions and supports that would encourage more lone mothers to work.

Methodology

The qualitative research consisted of 30 in-depth face-to-face interviews with lone mothers who were either widowed, single, separated or divorced and who had been in receipt of some form of social assistance at the time of the interview. Mothers working on a part-time basis who were still receiving some form of social benefits were also eligible for the study. Among other questions, respondents were probed on issues relating to employment, education, and their financial and social support. The data were analysed using qualitative techniques and were coded using the Atlas.ti software programme.

Main findings

Work experiences of lone mothers

Of the 30 lone mothers interviewed, only three were in employment and many mothers had been out of the labour market for a long time. Most of the mothers claimed that they used to enjoy work but many had stopped working after marriage or after having their children. Some of the mothers indicated that they had stopped working because they had experienced redundancy, while a small number of the mothers had stopped working due to health reasons. Some of the mothers regretted the fact that they had stopped working and they were willing to start or return to paid employment. The majority of the mothers interviewed felt that through work they would be better integrated in society and that employment would give them greater opportunities in life.

Motivation to work

Many of the lone mothers had a low assessment of their abilities, and some of them thought that they may not be able to fit into a working environment. When asked about their work aspirations, many mothers wanted to develop their skills while others wished to work in elementary occupations. They felt that through work they would be able to improve the quality of their lives as well as that of their children. They also believed that work would alleviate their financial problems, improve their living conditions and enable them to lead a more independent life.

Obstacles faced when re-entering the labour market

When the lone mothers were asked what hinders their decision to work, a variety of problems were cited. These included lack of trust in childcarers and a lack of childcare centres. Some mothers felt a sense of guilt when leaving their children to go out to work and had problems reconciling their caring reponsibilities with that of their breadwinning role. Regarding age, some of the mothers interviewed felt that working opportunities for those over 30 years of age were lacking. They also reported that employers sometimes overlook their applications and their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) because of their age. A small number of the mothers participating in the study had to cope with the additional burden of looking after their parents, which added to their difficulties in finding a job.

Mothers with low qualifications faced more difficulties in finding a good job and were often offered jobs with poor working conditions and low wages. Some of the mothers had experienced stigma and prejudice at the workplace and they felt as if they were looked down upon by their co-workers. Some remarked that employers prefer to employ someone who has no family responsibilities. Furthermore, lack of transport facilities, health and personal problems increased the difficulties faced by lone mothers and hindered their prospects of returning to the labour market. Thus, social benefits were often the main and only secure mode of income for most of the lone mothers participating in this study, although the majority claimed that benefits did not cover all of their needs.

Conclusions

This research shows that lone parents face a number of obstacles to employment. Much remains to be done in the area of childcare and flexible work organisation. Lone parents also need clear advice on social benefits and, when they lose their job, they need a rapid response to ensure that their benefits are reissued without delays. A respectful environment at work and one-stop shop advisory and support services would also help more lone mothers to enter or return to the labour market.

Anna Borg, Centre for Labour Studies