Barely a month goes by without HR headlines screaming about the ever-diminishing talent pool; how to find talent in the first place, secure it – and how to keep it once you’ve got it. How frustrating it must be, then, for the majority of working mothers desperate to demonstrate their proven career track records but stalled by the lack of flexible working positions actually available. The second annual survey from Workingmums.co.uk reflects this ridiculous situation showing that of the 1,100 working mothers surveyed most are hungry for work and can display an impressive range of skills and experience but feel there is a distinct lack of opportunities to use them. It found that: « 73% of returning mums felt that the lack of appropriate and available jobs is the biggest barrier « 86% of mothers said that flexi-hours are the most desired working condition « Only 31% of mothers actually achieved the flexibility they requested, with 26% achieving a compromise with managers “We’ve always maintained that employers must become creative in their talent search in future years, says Liz Linington, Chapple’s HR Recruitment Specialist. “Savvy employers who are able to accommodate the specific needs of returning mums may gain the competitive edge as well as being rewarded with an eager, loyal and experienced addition to their existing team.”