Campaigners warn that the "motherhood penalty" is wreaking havoc on both women and the economy, with recent analysis indicating a widening pay gap between mothers and fathers in the UK.

Released on International Women’s Day, a study comparing hourly earnings reveals that in 2023, mothers earned on average 24% less per hour than fathers, amounting to a "motherhood pay penalty" of £4.44. This disparity has only increased since 2020, with fathers earning a median hourly pay of £18.48 compared to £14.04 for mothers.

Joeli Brearley, CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed, emphasises that unless addressed by the government and employers, these issues will persist, negatively impacting women, families, and the economy. She say that the gender pay gap, largely fueled by caregiving responsibilities, disproportionately affects women, contributing to both economic inequality and child poverty.