What do women want from work post-pandemic? A qualitative study of women in Western Sydney.

Abstract

This report shows that the working women of Western Sydney expect and want to work in good jobs that provide economic security for themselves and their families. They want access to high-quality flexible working options, and in 2022 they are especially interested in hybrid working arrangements. They want good care systems that are affordable, match the realities of their working lives, and allow them to meet both their economic and their family needs. Currently, they face several barriers to achieving these aspirations including current employment in insecure work, undervaluation of their skills, a lack of good flexible working options, and care systems that do not match the realities of work and family life. Moving into recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, working women have clear ideas about what they want from work and the kinds of policy measures that will support them to participate in the labour market. We highlight the voices of Western Sydney’s women workers and their ideas for an inclusive pandemic recovery. The report highlights what women want at work under three themes: Good Jobs, Good Flexibility and Good Care.