Census to look at earnings of new mothers to tackle pay gap

THE census is to look at women’s earnings after they give birth in an effort to tackle the gender pay gap.

Plans announced for future versions of the project, which happens every decade and is next due in 2021, include an examination of women’s earnings after they have a child.

A pilot carried out last year matched PAYE data with birth registration data to identify mothers who gave birth in 2015, and work out how their earnings changed. Analysis of the experimental figures, which are not official statistics, suggested a higher proportion (42per cent) of women aged over 30, who gave birth in 2015, were earning more than £20,000 compared with all women (25 per cent).

“Women aged 30 and over and having their first child in 2015 were more likely to be receiving a higher income than those aged 16 to 29,” analysis said.

“More data would be needed to understand whether women are delaying childbirth to further their career and receive a higher income.”

A report published yesterday set out plans by the Office for National Statistics to use the data.

“With additional data, this research could inform the gender pay gap and the provision of services supporting new mothers,” the ONS said.

It is one of several areas that the ONS is examining for censuses beyond 2021.