Causes and Consequences of Mothers’ Workforce Re-entry After Career Breaks: A Systematic Literature Review

The working conditions of mothers returning to the workforce after a career break have garnered increasing scholarly attention due to their implications for gender equality, workplace inclusivity, and societal well-being. While this area has been widely examined, there remains a need to consolidate existing findings to identify critical knowledge gaps and inform future research. This study presents a systematic literature review on the causes and consequences of mothers’ return to work following childbirth or career interruption. Guided by the PRISMA protocol, 42 peer-reviewed articles were selected and analysed through rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure a comprehensive dataset. The review highlights that key factors influencing mothers' return to work include government support, individual motivations such as financial necessity, organisational policies, and individual agency, including career aspirations. The consequences of re-entering the workforce span individual, familial, and societal domains and are often characterised by emotional stress and logistical challenges. This review categorises the multifaceted causes and outcomes associated with maternal workforce reintegration, identifies prevailing research gaps, and proposes directions for future studies. It offers a theoretical contribution to understanding the intersection between working conditions and career re-entry, while also providing policy recommendations aimed at fostering supportive environments for returning mothers.