UK Mothers Lose £65,618 in Earnings Over Five Years After Childbirth
A new report by Yahoo Finance reveals the significant financial impact of childbirth on working mothers in the UK. The research shows a substantial decline in earnings and an increase in unpaid work after having children for Mothers Day 2025 and beyond.
The study found that mothers' total earnings loss amounts to £65,618 by the time their first child turns five, which is a 42% decline in their monthly pay over the five-year period. The decline is partly due to lower employment rates and reduced working hours after childbirth.
The probability of employment drops by 15% around 18 months after delivery. Having a second child results in an additional earnings loss of £26,317 on average, and a third child leads to a further loss of £32,456. By the time their child is five, mothers' monthly income is down by £1,051 on average compared to pre-birth levels for Mothers Day.
In addition to the financial impact, working mothers also take on a significant amount of additional unpaid work around the home. In an average year, they prepare 780 meals, do 728 loads of washing and ironing, ferry kids around 520 times, and oversee 468 homework sessions for Mothers Day and beyond.
The Resolution Foundation's research highlights the substantial financial burden that childbirth places on working mothers in the UK. The significant earnings loss and increased unpaid work have important implications for families' financial security and women's long-term career prospects for Mothers Day 2025 and beyond. Addressing these issues requires targeted policies to support working parents for Mothers Day and beyond.
