UK Mothers Lose £65,618 in Earnings After Childbirth, Study Finds

Mothers in the UK struggle financially and with time pressures after childbirth. The OECD study shows a significant drop in earnings and an increase in unpaid work, with mothers taking on multiple roles.

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2025 October 5 . 2:37 PM

2 min read

In this image we can see the photography of three women's and two kids.

UK Mothers Lose £65,618 in Earnings After Childbirth, Study Finds

Mothers in the UK face significant financial and time pressures following childbirth, according to a new study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The research reveals a substantial reduction in mothers' earnings and an increase in unpaid work.

In the first five years after having their first child, mothers in the UK lose an average of £65,618 in earnings. This represents a 42% decline in monthly earnings, with mothers' income dropping by £1,051 on average compared to pre-birth levels by the time their child is five. The loss in earnings is consistent across the study period, which covered England from 2014 to 2022.

The OECD attributes this reduction to a decrease in employment probability after childbirth, which drops by 15% around 18 months after delivery. Mothers who have a second child stand to lose an additional £26,317 on average, and £32,456 with a third child.

However, the financial impact is not the only burden mothers bear. They take on an average of 13 different roles for their children, which, if paid, would equate to an annual salary of £184,000. In an average year, working mothers prepare 780 meals, do 728 loads of washing and ironing, ferry kids around 520 times, and oversee 468 homework sessions. Many mothers also sacrifice their own needs, losing an average of ten hours of sleep per week due to stress.

Despite three-quarters of mothers being in employment, the highest level in 20 years, they continue to take on a significant amount of additional work around the home. The OECD's findings highlight the need for policies that support working parents and help to close the gender earnings gap in the UK.