According to new research by the charity, women in the 25 per cent most expensive areas for childcare were less likely to return to work than women who live in areas where childcare is cheaper.
Despite high earners often living in areas which have high childcare prices, the charity found that childcare costs still had an effect after this was taken into account, for women who returned to work part-time in particular.
The research, which is based on data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study of approximately 40,000 households and the Coram Family and Childcare’s own figures on childcare costs, analyses the choices of British women from the year before they have a baby to up to three years afterwards. The mothers had at least one baby born between 2009 and 2015.
It shows that before having a baby, 67 per cent of women were in some form of employment. Of these, 37per cent were working full-time and 17 per cent were part-time. Three years after having a baby, 55 per cent were working with 20 per cent in full-time employment and 28 per cent in part-time employment.
It also reveals that new mothers not using informal childcare were also less likely to return to work as were those with caring responsibilities.
In comparison to women, the charity found that relatively few new fathers had to change their employment pattern within three years of having a baby. Almost 80 per cent of fathers either remained in full-time work or stayed self-employed.
The research, which was released today at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Families in the Early Years, of which Coram Family and Childcare is the secretariat, also finds:
- Three years after the birth of their child, 43 per cent of women with other caring responsibilities had returned to work, both full- and part-time, compared with 57 per cent of mothers without additional caring responsibilities.
- Single mothers were a lot less likely to return to work after having a child than those living with their partner.
Coram Family and Childcare is now calling for policy interventions to reduce the cost of childcare through free provision and support to help more women return to work, particularly at the point just after maternity leave, when childcare is most expensive.
It also wants the Government to do more to incentivise all employers to support parents to balance work and care.
Comments
Claire Harding, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said, ‘Too many parents in the UK are frozen out of work by the high cost of childcare, particularly in the first few years when the price is highest and there is no free childcare available. This means families face a drop in income and parents’ vital skills are lost to employers and the economy. Government must act to make sure all parents are better off working after paying for childcare.
‘As the research shows, childcare prices particularly disadvantage women who want to work part-time or need to combine work with other caring responsibilities. Making childcare affordable and available to all women who want it would improve families’ well-being and give all women the option of remaining in the work force.’
A Government spokesperson said, 'While employment among parents in the UK is at a record high, we always want to support women to return to work, if they so choose.
'We have taken a number of steps since 2015 designed to help reduce childcare costs for parents, including Tax Free Childcare and the 30 hours early education entitlement for three and four-year-olds.
'Parents who receive universal credit can also claim 85 per cent of their eligible childcare costs and have the support of a personal work coach to help them find a role that works around their commitments.'
