Women in London earn 19% less per hour than men, and economists theorise this is due to the ‘Motherhood penalty’.
The ‘Motherhood penalty’ refers to the economic disadvantages women experience after having children.
Some of these disadvantages include a lower employment rate, lower earnings, and reduced working hours compared to their own pre-birth work and to women without children.
One London-based professional described returning to work as entering an increasingly unstable landscape.
She said: “My sector is facing a rocky period, so I can’t be sure about long-term security after returning to work. I’m removed from day-to-day discussions.”
In a rising cost-of-living crisis, it is mothers who are paying the most and earning the least.
The ONS estimates that five years after the birth of a first child, women in England earn 42% less than they would have done without having a child; in London, this figure drops to 38%.
On the surface, it seems that London is leading the way for working mothers; in reality, it’s far more confusing.
Uniquely in London, the probability of employment five years after birth continues to decline rather than increase, unlike elsewhere in the nation.
Regions across England experience a two-percentage-point increase in employment five years post-birth. In London, this trend reverses, resulting in a two-point decrease.
For those stepping away from work, the consequences are not limited to income alone. Some women describe a sudden loss of influence and professional agency while on leave.
“Even though my manager keeps me in the loop on changes, I have no control or influence over changes to my team,” one mother explained.
“It was leaving knowing my reputation was at stake if I didn’t hand over well or have everything in order.”
Once maternity leave ends, concerns about career progression and a sustainable work/life balance as a new mother begin.
“Picking up where I left off in terms of progression worries me most. Managing work-life balance as a new parent feels like a second full-time job,” she said.
Economists still cannot fully explain why London bucks national trends. What is clear, however, is that current support for mothers returning to the workforce is not sufficient to prevent long-term financial and professional difficulties.
Featured image credit: Anh Tuan Thomas via Unsplash
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