Women finding it tough to return to work

PHOENIX -- A new study says that 78 percent of the people who lost their jobs during the recession were men, meaning that, in many households, women have no choice but to try to get back into the work force.

Stephanie Henkins of Gilbert is one of those women. She is a stay-at-home mom with two children.

Her husband lost his construction job and has been looking for work for 15 months.

Stephanie said he always has been a survivor and a good provider and they believed he would find work.

"He is applying every day, but it's just very tough out there," Stephanie said. "We have pretty much depleted our savings and done what it's taken to keep a roof over our heads. This is just so sad."

Two months ago, the two decided that he would go back to school and Stephanie would start looking for work.

"I don't have a choice. I really have got to find work," she said.

Stephanie said not being at home for her kids will be tough.

"My little 5-year-old, he's having some problems," she said. "They say he's a little learning delayed, so I just feel I'm still very needed at home."

So far, Stephanie has applied for 27 jobs and has had only one call back -- to take a test for a job as a 911 operator. She's waiting to see if she gets the job.

She owned a clothing store before having her first child eight years ago and she's finding her past experience really doesn't matter.

"Most employers want a current work history and saying that you're self-employed sounds all good and fine, but it's just not getting me in the door."

Stephanie said her husband is on his seventh, and last, extension of unemployment and once that runs out, she doesn't know what they will do.

"To be honest, we're scared to death," she said.

One thing that's helping to pay the bills is a Web site the couple has started that caters to pet owners. They have sold about 70 ads for the Web site at $80 each. The Web site is www.varietypets.com.

Meanwhile, Stephanie and her counterparts re-entering the work force will discover they're not getting paid what they used to.

The New York Times reports that, for every two years a woman does not work, her income potential falls 10 percent. Jodi Towns with the staffing firm "10-til-2" which is geared toward women, said that's sad but true.

"When you're out of the work force, you're losing some skills, the technology," she said, adding that companies don't want to have to train new people.

"They want somebody who's just going to be ready to get started and not have that training curve."

Women may have to settle for an entry-level position at an office, Towns said.

"People are having to take a step back and maybe take a lower type of position, lower pay, often just to get their foot in the door."