75% of women with dependent children are in employment
The gender pay gap among full-time employees fell from 9% in 2019 to 7.4% in 2020, but there is still a 20% salary discrepancy between working mothers and fathers. Bionic, a business comparison company, published data that revealed where in the UK has the biggest pay disparity.
Employment rates of mothers across the UK
| Around the UK (2019) | Men with dependent children | Women with dependent children | Percentage difference between men & women in work with dependent children |
| Scotland | 93.10% | 77.20% | 18.67% |
| Wales | 89.90% | 77.20% | 15.20% |
| England | 92.70% | 74.80% | 21.37% |
| Northern Ireland | 93% | 75.70% | 20.51% |
The number of employed mothers in Scotland and Wales is the highest in the UK with 77.20% of women reported to have children dependent on them while being in work. In Scotland the figure is at 18.67% more women with children dependent on them vs men with dependent children. In Wales this discrepancy is smaller at 15.20%.
The highest percentage difference throughout the UK was between fathers and mothers in England. Over 21% more mothers have dependent children on them in England vs fathers.
Employment rates of mothers fall 20% lower than fathers
Between April and June in 2019, three in every four mothers with dependent children (75.1%) in the UK were in work. This is compared to 92.6% of fathers with dependent children.
| April to June 2010 to 2019, UK | Men with dependent children | Women with dependent children | Percentage Different for Men and Women |
| April-June 2010 | 88.60% | 67.80% | 26.60% |
| April-June 2011 | 88.90% | 67.40% | 27.51% |
| April-June 2012 | 89.80% | 68% | 27.63% |
| April-June 2013 | 90% | 69.30% | 25.99% |
| April-June 2014 | 91.30% | 69.70% | 26.83% |
| April-June 2015 | 91.10% | 70.80% | 25.08% |
| April-June 2016 | 92.30% | 72.10% | 24.57% |
| April-June 2017 | 92.10% | 73.80% | 22.06% |
| April-June 2018 | 92.80% | 74.20% | 22.28% |
| April-June 2019 | 92.60% | 75.10% | 20.87% |
Almost 30% of women with a child aged 14 years and under reported that they had reduced their working hours because of childcare reasons. This is compared to just 5% of fathers.
Glyn Britton, Chief Customer Officer at business comparison expert Bionic, offered some insight into what businesses can do to bridge this gap:
“As more businesses have been forced to adopt some form of remote working, more employees have come to appreciate the importance of a healthy work/life balance. None more so than parents.
“If businesses want to attract and keep the best talent, they need to offer more than a competitive salary, and having attractive maternity and paternity policies in place can make all the difference for prospective and current employees.
“As a minimum, mothers can take up to 52 weeks leave after giving birth, the first six of which must be on at least 90% pay. Fathers can take up to two weeks on the lower of £151.97 a week or 90% of their wages. If your business can offer more attractive terms, it could give you an edge over others.
“Other ideas include offering flexible, hybrid working and creating a maternity and paternity strategy to offer support and advice to parents. And, if you’ve not done so already, closing the gender pay gap will give the clearest indication of your support for equality in the workplace.”
