Instead of staying home to twiddle your thumbs, recruiters say that taking up part-time jobs or offering freelance services could, besides helping to make ends meet, provide other tangible benefits too.

'A part-time position can allow workers to explore different lines of work for a broader experience; mothers can explore the flexibility of working at home,' said Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, senior vice-president (Asia Pacific) of recruitment firm Kelly Services.

Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.