Mothers in England experience a notable decline in earnings after having children, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The study revealed that five years post the birth of their first child, mothers’ earnings plummet by an average of £1,051 per month compared to their salary prior to childbirth. This decline continues with subsequent children, with studies showing a total loss of £65,618 for the first child, £26,317 for the second, and £32,456 for the third.
The ONS data, spanning from April 2014 to December 2022, is the first of its kind to analyze earnings and employment status for mothers after childbirth. It indicates “maximum losses” occur in the first year when mothers typically take longer parental leave than fathers. Rachel Grocott, chief executive of the campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, expressed concerns over the findings, labeling them as unacceptable and highlighting their avoidability.
Femilola Miller, a mother of three, articulated the issue personally, noting a significant pay disparity between her and her husband despite their similar salaries before having children. She points out repeated promotions for her husband upon returning to work after parental leave, indicating systemic biases against mothers. Similarly, other mothers expressed feelings of career stagnation due to childcare responsibilities and workplace policies.
While the gender pay gap in the UK is gradually narrowing, full-time working women still earn approximately 7% less than their male counterparts. Factors contributing to this gap include high childcare costs, an unbalanced parental leave system, and instances of discrimination during pregnancy and maternity. Recent government initiatives, including funded childcare hours and reviews of parental leave policies, aim to address these disparities.
Despite these measures, research suggests that around 74,000 new or expectant mothers might lose their jobs each year due to discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgq4x697q5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss