By Mona Lisa Faris, ConnectComm Magazine
At ConnectComm Magazine, our recruitment segment is dedicated to connecting talented professionals with organizations that value innovation, diversity, and inclusion. Next week, our team will attend the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference in New Orleans—a key platform for meeting, inspiring, and recruiting women in STEM fields.
Recent trends highlight why initiatives like this are more critical than ever. Women are leaving the U.S. workforce at high rates, reversing pandemic-era gains. Mothers of young children are particularly affected, with labor force participation declining significantly in 2025. Key factors driving this trend include:
- Return-to-office mandates: Full-time office requirements make balancing work and family challenging.
- Soaring childcare costs: Many families find childcare expenses exceed take-home pay.
- Limited support: Inadequate paid leave and inflexible schedules force some women out of the workforce.
- Stagnant wages and economic uncertainty: Persistent gender wage gaps and job market anxiety contribute to departures.
Career conferences provide solutions to help address these challenges. They allow organizations to:
- Showcase flexible work options and supportive policies: Highlighting benefits like remote work, childcare assistance, or mentorship programs can attract and retain women talent.
- Engage directly with candidates: Face-to-face conversations allow companies to understand career goals, challenges, and potential accommodations that would make employment sustainable.
- Expand recruitment pipelines: Conferences bring together diverse talent, including women who might otherwise face barriers entering or returning to the workforce.
“As someone who attends conferences across the country, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful these events can be for connecting women with meaningful career opportunities,” says Mona Lisa Faris, President and CEO of ConnectComm. “By intentionally showcasing supportive policies and engaging directly with attendees, companies can help reverse trends that are pushing talented women out of the workforce and build stronger, more inclusive teams.”
To make the most of events like SWE, companies can reach out to candidates pre-event, create interactive and informative experiences, and follow up promptly to maintain engagement.
At ConnectComm, we believe connecting women professionals with opportunities that align with their skills, ambitions, and life circumstances strengthens both individual careers and the broader economy. By addressing workforce barriers through intentional recruitment strategies, we can help reverse trends like the “she-cession” and build a more inclusive, resilient workforce.
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