How Women Who Lost Work During the Pandemic Can Recover Income

Many women struggled professionally during the pandemic. In some cases, shelter-in-place-related closures led to layoffs that disproportionately impacted women. For example, approximately 70 percent of those working in tourism and hospitality – two of the harder-hit industries – are female.

Additionally, many women had little choice but to leave their careers to assume the role of full-time caregiver during the pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, four times as many women as men left the workforce. Additionally, one in four women who left did so because of a lack of child care specifically, a rate that was twice as high as was seen with men.

As a result, many women say their income-earning potential diminished significantly, if not entirely. Fortunately, there are ways to get on the path toward recovery. Online money-making opportunities can be an ideal fit, especially for those still acting as caregivers or needing some flexibility. If you’re wondering what options might be the best match, here’s what to consider. Make sure to see how Behind The Leaf’s services and resources can help.

Start By Assessing Your Skill Set

Before looking for online money-making opportunities, it’s wise to assess your skillset. Knowing what you bring to the table can help you determine the type of work you qualify for and the kinds of opportunities you might want to pursue.

Don't panic if you analyze your capabilities and worry that you come up short in some areas. There are plenty of ways to boost your skills before you start seeking out money-making options.

Signing up for free webinars can also be a good move, as well as heading to YouTube to find instructional videos. You can also find how-to blog posts, giving you step-by-step instructions for completing a particular task. Even the library can be an asset, allowing you to check out books that can guide you along the way.

Another great way to build on your existing capabilities is heading back to school. You can sharpen your business skills by going back to school and earning an online business degree. Along with developing your business acumen, you can choose programs focusing on other critical areas, including leadership, marketing, and business management.

Select the Right Approach

Once you know what you bring to the table, it’s time to choose the right money-making approach. In most cases, you’ll want to start by determining the amount of time you can commit and the degree of flexibility you require.

If you can work for 10 to 40 hours per week and are available during a traditional work shift, then going with a conventional remote job with an employer might be your best bet. You’ll get extra stability and may receive other benefits, like company-provided equipment, medical coverage, or paid time off.

If you have a reasonable amount of time but require more flexibility, freelancing could be a better choice. You’ll effectively be self-employed, so you’ll have more control over your workload and schedule. However, you’ll have to contend with self-employment tax and won’t have access to traditional benefits through an employer.

In some cases, you can make freelancing a stronger option by turning it into a business. When you form an LLC, you reduce your liability. Plus, you end up with less paperwork and could capture some tax advantages, all while maintaining flexibility. Keep in mind that rules for forming an LLC vary by state, so you’ll want to check regulations in your area before you begin.

Once you form your business, you can market your way toward success. Since images are critical with marketing, you may find yourself working with a graphic designer along the way. If so, make emailing the pictures easier by compressing them. If you are dealing with JPGs, going with a JPG-to-PDF converter may be better than traditional compression. Not only can you save several images in one file, but you maintain the image quality, ensuring what you email looks its best.

Image via Pexels

Written by Emma Grace Brown; egrace@emmagracebrown.com