Businesses are being urged to shift their mindsets when it comes to the traditional 9 to 5 workday in order to create an environment that's more accessible for mums and their families.
A recent report found $13 trillion could be added globally to the economy if more is done for gender equality.
The report found that if small to medium size businesses within New Zealand were to get creative with their taskforce and flexible employment, it could inject $20 billion into our economy – equating to 9% of GDP.
It's estimated that 20-30% of the workforce are mothers who need flexibility.
Mum of two and marketing expert Michelle Kurniasih said it can be hard juggling work and two 10-month-old babies.
Kurniasih has been looking for a job for over three months but hasn't made it to the interview stage yet.
"It's been a journey – a tough one, actually," she said.
"I think it's been three months now. It's been very hard to find a flexible role that supports our needs as a mum."
She has been looking for flexible work but says it's very limited in her chosen field.
"I believe employers should adapt to mums looking to come back to [the] workforce," she said.
"There's a lot of talented mums – they need to find their way back to the jobs that can accommodate their needs."
For many mums it can be hard finding work after having a child, so organisations like Jobs for Mums help parents find employment.
"We've got lots of mums looking for work," Jobs for Mums founder Mela Lush told 1News.
"We have about 20,000 people visit our website every month and we know that a large percentage of them are either unemployed or underemployed a decade after having their first child."
The organisation partners with big companies like Fletcher, Kiwibank and Fonterra to help women find employment.
However, finding similar opportunities in smaller branches can be far more challenging.
"A lot of small businesses don't realise, if you can think outside the 9 to 5, you get access to this amazing talent pool.
"It's the world's largest hidden workforce and it's actually 20% of the job market."
For many mums, rejoining the workforce can be a massive step in their career journey.
Comfortech manager Mel Semmens told 1News she was "looking for a step up in my career" as a senior product manager.
"At the same time, I was wanting flexibility because I had a young child at home. It was really hard to find," she said.
The mother of two had been at Fletchers for the last seven years before moving next door to Comfortech, which is part of Fletchers.
"I've been really lucky to still progress my career while having flexible hours," she said.
"Flexibility is really important to me as a mum. I want to make sure that I'm there for all the kids' important school events."
Semmens expressed the importance of flexibility to have weekends off so she can spend time with her children.
A number of mums at the Baby Show, a parenting exhibition in Auckland, told 1News their hardships with returning to work.
"It took me three years after I had my first child to find somewhere where I could have weekends off, finish at a normal time, and be home with my family," one woman said.
Another added that taking care of her baby "is a full-time job".
"I don't know how I'm going to do a full-time job on top of that."
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