Women are discouraged from having children because of a ‘motherhood penalty’ at work, a study has found.
Although figures show that only 1.49 children were born per woman in 2022, research suggests that on average, women would like to have two or three.
The study, by think tank Onward, found that factors such as a lack of financial support for new mothers and high childcare costs meant families could not afford to have more children.
Onward called on the government to double the period during which new mothers receive a higher rate of maternity pay, as well as giving fathers more access to paternity leave. According to The Times, evidence shows that becoming a mother is associated with earning less each month and saving less in later life.
While the data shows that women aged 18-21 earn 0.2% more than their male counterparts, those aged 40-49 earn 10% less. Women have an average pension savings of £69,000 by the age of 67, compared with £205,000 for men.
Women are having fewer children because of the “motherhood penalty” at work, as well as lack of financial support and childcare costs (file photo)
Onward called on the government to emulate countries such as Sweden, which has higher rates of maternity and paternity pay, as well as a higher birth rate.
Phoebe Arslanagic-Little, of Onward, told The Times: ‘Many people delay having children or are unable to have as many as they want because they feel parenthood is out of reach.
‘But instead of making the path easier for parents and parents-to-be, our tax, benefit and employment rights systems are letting them down: children are our future.
‘New moms and dads need more financial certainty and stability to enable them to have the families they want.’
Figures for England and Wales show a record number of children being born each year – the last time enough children were born to prevent population decline was in the 1970s.
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said the report laid bare the challenges faced by millions of parents.
The report added that when the Bank of England cut interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis there was a rise in fertility rates.
An estimated 14,500 more babies were born in 2009 and the British birth rate rose by 7.5 per cent over the following three years.
The research was backed by advice forum Mumsnet, whose founder Justine Roberts said the report laid bare the challenges faced by millions of parents.
She said: “This report is an important contribution to the conversation about how we tackle financial barriers to parenthood, and reflects much of what we hear from our nine million users, particularly about the low rates of statutory maternity and paternity pay and the importance of tackling the criminalisation of motherhood in the workplace.”