‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five

Posted: 9th October 2025

Source: ‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five | Maternity & paternity rights | The Guardian

Mothers lose an average of £65,618 in pay by the time their first child turns five, as the “motherhood penalty” risks their financial security, official figures show.

Mums in England are hit by a “substantial and long-lasting reduction” in their pay after they have children, as they become less likely to stay in paid employment, the Office for National Statistics have said.

It found that women’s average monthly earnings had fallen by 42%, or £1,051 per month, five years after the birth of their first child, compared with their pay one year before the birth.

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