Mothers earn less than fathers

A new report from Statistics NZ reveals the average earnings of mothers to be slightly less than that of fathers. File photo.

A new report from Statistics NZ shows the average earnings of mothers to be 17 per cent less than the average earnings for fathers.

The report gives the average hourly pay of mothers to be $23.40, while fathers earn $28.30 an hour.

In contrast, the ‘gap' between men and women without dependent children is only 5 per cent.

Insights manager Stephen Oakley believes the difference is ‘significant'.

'The negative pay consequences for women with children is internationally referred to as the ‘motherhood penalty'.”

However, the data also shows, on average, parents make more than men and women without children.

'We found parents generally get paid more than non-parents,” says Stephen.

'For example, mothers with dependent children earn more than $23 an hour, on average, almost $1 an hour more than men and $2 more than women without children. Studying the reasons for this difference was not part of our analysis and requires further study.”

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue believes the report is an excellent example of why workplaces need to be looking to address the causes of what she terms ‘the gender pay gap'.

'The results of this research are not surprising, with several studies showing the gender pay gap rises markedly when women take on caring responsibilities. For women, it is virtually impossible to recover any ground they lose while taking on caring responsibilities. This will continue until the culture within our workplaces changes.”

'Organisations need to consider whether their own policies and practices are contributing to the gap, and if they are, they need to take leadership and provide flexible work options and supportive environments for women taking on caring responsibilities,” says Jackie.

'They also need to develop policies that eliminate unconscious bias, discrimination and negative stereotypes in the workplace, if we are to close the gender pay gap.”

The Human Rights Commission has previously called for changes to legislation that would require companies with more than 250 employees to publish their gender and ethnic ‘pay gap'.

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5 comments

golly gosh

Posted on 01-03-2017 07:20 | By old trucker

Oh well,you choose to have kids,STOP breeding,my Tuppence worth,there were 7 of us kids ,and Mum never ever complained,Gosh,all these studies,gosh i wish i was on $23 hr,yeah right,how about $18, if lucky. anyway Sunlive,thankyou for being No1 in the Bay for News,10-4 out.


get over it

Posted on 01-03-2017 09:08 | By spy 1

having kids is a privilage not a right get over it.


Don't want much hey?

Posted on 01-03-2017 10:14 | By The Hobbit

Mothers probably earn 17% less than fathers because fathers work 17% more of the time. Spy 1 and Old Trucker have very valid points. Where is all this complaining going to end - free sanitary products, equal pay (for working less)?? If women want things equal, why are they happy to have female only sessions in the gym and swimming pools, for example? Equality is only requested when it suits them. Mothers - stop your moaning - you have choices in life!!


Bollocks

Posted on 01-03-2017 12:59 | By Johnney

So John earns more than Sue. Sue earns more than Joe. Some ladies earn more than men. Everyone is different in different situations. We waste money on pointless surveys.


Show me a report

Posted on 02-03-2017 07:12 | By BennyBenson

that actually compares apples for apples. Same organisation, same role, same qualifications, same years of experience in that role. Until then all this shows is mothers are choosing to work in jobs that pay less for other reasons ie focusing on bringing up children rather than advancing a career, less qualifications, choosing jobs that work in with school hours, less stressful occupations. Stop making something out of nothing.


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