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

<p>Women’s average monthly earnings fall by 42% compared with one year before birth, ONS study finds</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/oct/03/mothers-lose-an-average-65618-in-pay-by-the-time-their-first-child-turns-five">Continue reading...</a>