Income loss after first child narrows
Mothers who had their first child between 2016 and 2018 earned an average of 33 per cent less from work six years later.
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Women’s income loss after the birth of their first child has narrowed, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Among women who became mothers between 2016 and 2018, income from work was 32.8 per cent lower six years later than in the year before the birth; among men, it was 3.1 per cent lower.
CBS calls this difference the so-called motherhood penalty. The figures cover people who were working before the birth and compare their income from work six years later with the year before the birth. They therefore do not concern total household income, nor do they directly measure hourly pay or labour productivity.
The trend differs sharply by birth period. Among women who had their first child between 1996 and 2001, income was 57.4 per cent lower six years later. That difference fell from minus 49.0 per cent among the 2002-2007 group, minus 43.0 per cent for 2008-2010, minus 37.2 per cent for 2011-2013 and minus 35.0 per cent for 2014-2016, to minus 32.8 per cent for 2016-2018. Among men, the figures fluctuated around zero in those periods.
- Women
- Men
Show the figures
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-2001 | -57.4% | 1.6% |
| 2002-2007 | -49.0% | -0.7% |
| 2008-2010 | -43.0% | -1.5% |
| 2011-2013 | -37.2% | -1.6% |
| 2014-2016 | -35.0% | 0.5% |
| 2016-2018 | -32.8% | -3.1% |
According to CBS, mothers have, on average, worked more hours over time. The figures do not, however, show which individual cause is decisive. Possible factors include childcare, leave, employers’ policies, employment contracts, sectoral differences and the division of unpaid care.
The preference for an equal division of care is greater than the reality. Two-thirds of mothers and fathers in cohabiting heterosexual couples with children living at home want to divide care equally. In reality, 40.1 per cent say care is divided equally, while in 47.8 per cent of couples the woman does slightly more and in 7.4 per cent the woman mainly takes responsibility for care.
Working hours also differ from what people consider appropriate. In 2025, 74.5 per cent of fathers with a child under four worked 35 hours or more a week, while 67.3 per cent of women believe fathers in that situation should ideally work between 20 and 35 hours. Of the mothers, 57.0 per cent worked between 20 and 35 hours and 18.1 per cent worked 35 hours or more. Income loss after childbirth is smaller among more recent groups of mothers, but remains greater than among fathers.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- Women’s income loss after the birth of their first child fell from 57.4 per cent for the 1996-2001 birth periods to 32.8 per cent for 2016-2018, according to CBS.
- According to CBS, mothers have worked more hours on average.
▼ Concerns
- The income gap remains large: in the most recent group, the loss was 32.8 per cent for mothers compared with 3.1 per cent for fathers.
- In 2025, 74.5 per cent of fathers with a child under four worked 35 hours or more a week, compared with 18.1 per cent of mothers.
Critical note
The percentages measure income from work six years after the birth compared with the previous year. They are not measures of hourly pay, household income or purchasing power, and do not show which individual cause explains the difference.
Who notices what
- Households
- Lower income after childbirth can reduce families’ financial room for manoeuvre over the long term.
- Workers
- According to CBS, mothers in particular still suffer a substantial income disadvantage after the birth of a first child.
- Businesses
- Employers face the question of how leave, working hours and career opportunities can produce more equal outcomes.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- CBS reports smaller income losses for mothers after the birth of their first child than in earlier birth periods.
- Two-thirds of mothers and fathers say they prefer an equal division of care, while 40.1 per cent report that care is actually divided equally.
- In many couples, the woman actually does more childcare.
Left
Arguments The figures point to persistent structural inequality. Policies on affordable childcare, leave, equal pay and employers’ responsibilities should prevent parenthood from harming women’s careers in particular.
Values Equal opportunities, economic independence and a fairer division of unpaid care.
Consequences Greater public and employer investment could further reduce the income gap, but would also require long-term funding.
Centre
Arguments The trend is improving, but reality is lagging behind parents’ preferences. A combination of better information, good facilities and room for different family choices seems appropriate.
Values Freedom of choice, practicality and gradual improvement based on measurable results.
Consequences A mixed approach could deliver progress without imposing a single family model.
Right
Arguments Families should be free to decide how they divide work and care. The government should mainly remove obstacles rather than prescribe how many hours fathers or mothers work.
Values Autonomy, families’ responsibility and a restrained role for government.
Consequences Greater freedom of choice may suit families, but leaves open the risk that existing gender roles will continue to affect income and careers.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures, periods and definitions were checked directly against the CBS publication. The text makes no causal claim beyond what the source supports.
- confirmed Women in the 2016-2018 birth period had, on average, 32.8 per cent less income from work six years after the birth. — CBS table on income from work after six years. source
- confirmed Among men, the change in the same group was minus 3.1 per cent. — CBS table on income from work after six years. source
- confirmed Care is actually divided equally in 40.1 per cent of couples. — CBS table on the division of childcare in 2026. source
Editor's note
The trend and percentages come from the CBS publication. The figures describe income from work and do not, by themselves, prove any individual cause.More on this in Dutch media
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