(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sun 5th Oct, 2025) London, UK —
Navigating the Motherhood Penalty: How Parenthood Reduces Women's Earnings in the UK
Mothers in England experience a “significant and enduring decline” in earnings following the birth of their children, a new study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals.
On average, five years post the arrival of their first child, mothers see their monthly earnings decrease by £1,051 compared to what they earned a year prior to childbirth.
The financial impact persists with the arrival of second and third children, affecting mothers' earnings further.
Rachel Grocott, the Chief Executive of Pregnant Then Screwed, described the findings as “utterly disgraceful” and highlighted that the repercussions of the motherhood penalty are “not just inequitable – they are preventable.”
This pioneering dataset by the ONS scrutinised mothers' earnings and employment status from April 2014 to December 2022, after the birth of their first, second, and third child.
The study found that mothers earn £313 less per month on average five years after having their second child, and £689 less following their third, in comparison to their earnings a year before each respective birth.
Mothers experience the “greatest losses” during the first year post-birth, largely due to prolonged parental leave compared to fathers.
Earnings loss over five years amounted to £65,618 for a first child, £26,317 for a second, and £32,456 for a third child.
Femilola Miller, a London mother of three, shared her experience, noting that despite both she and her husband, David, taking several months off work for each child's birth, only her husband received promotions upon returning. This, she believes, demonstrates how the motherhood penalty is deeply rooted within societal norms.
Despite the gender pay gap in the UK slowly narrowing, women in full-time roles still earn an average of 7% less than their male counterparts.
Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, pointed out that the motherhood penalty is a “perfect storm” of bias, outdated policies, and societal expectations. Factors contributing to this issue include the high cost of childcare, an imbalanced parental leave system, lack of part-time and flexible working options, and discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity.
The UK government has made efforts to support working parents, such as offering 30 hours of funded childcare per week and reviewing parental leave policies. New legislation in England, Wales, and Scotland also aims to offer better protection against redundancy for pregnant women and those on maternity leave. Nonetheless, research indicates that each year, up to 74,000 new or expectant mothers face job loss due to pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
Evie, a 33-year-old mother from Newcastle, expressed how becoming a parent put her career “on pause,” highlighting the difficult balancing act between professional ambitions and family responsibilities.
Emma Potts, a cafe manager in Stoke-on-Trent, acknowledged the challenge small businesses face in accommodating flexible or part-time working arrangements, illustrating the broader complexity of the issue.
Katie Guild, co-founder of Nugget Savings, emphasized the financial shock of parenthood but suggested planning and understanding one's rights can alleviate some of the challenges.
This report underscores the tangible and lasting financial impacts of the motherhood penalty, calling for societal, cultural, and policy changes to address the issue comprehensively.
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