New Treasury analysis shows that mum’s earnings falling by an average of 55 per cent in the first five years of parenthood.
The motherhood penalty occurs primarily because women take time out of the workforce or work fewer hours after having a child. However, the penalty was the same regardless of a woman’s breadwinner status before having children and remains persistent for at least a decade into parenthood.
“This is the case even for women who significantly out-earn their partner,” the analysis said.
As for becoming a father? The analysis found men’s earnings were “unaffected by entry into parenthood”.
Source: ‘Motherhood penalty’: Women’s earnings halve in first 5 years of parenthood