23 AUGUST 2016

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today released the findings of a report into the gender pay gap. The study shows that women earn 18% less per hour than men on average, and this gap consistently widens after having children. 12 years after her first child is born, a woman can expect to be paid 33% less per hour than men.

Sam Smethers, Fawcett CEO, responded:

“What this study very clearly shows is the motherhood wage penalty, which is exacerbated by a lack of quality part-time work. We are wasting women’s skills and experience because of the way we choose to structure our labour market.

Part-time workers can be the most productive, yet reduced hours working becomes a career cul-de-sac for women from which they can’t recover. We desperately need to see more quality part-time jobs.

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Fawcett's campaigning led to new gender pay gap reporting legislation, which requires organisations with over 250 employees to publish data on their gender pay gaps, including bonuses, by April 2018. 

READ MORE ABOUT OUR WORK ON CLOSING THE GENDER PAY GAP HERE.