The loss of income for women after the birth of their first child in Germany is significantly greater than previously thought, according to a study by the Leibniz Center for European Economic Research (ZEW).
The study, conducted in collaboration with Tilburg University in the Netherlands, shows that in the fourth year after giving birth, mothers earn on average about 30 thousand euros less than women of the same age who do not have children, compared to a 20 thousand euro difference that previous data showed.
Losses also vary by the woman’s age when she gives birth to her first child, reports reuters.
The study, conducted with 186 mothers, shows that women who become mothers for the first time under the age of 30, in addition to losing income, also lose important career opportunities, especially in the initial phase of their careers.
On the other hand, women who become mothers later have usually advanced in their careers and demonstrated their skills in the job market.
For this reason, the absolute income losses for them may be greater, due to the reduction in working hours, but in the long run they find it easier to return to their careers, according to the study’s co-authors, including Lukas Riedel.