The impact of motherhood on women's career progression

Key findings

Mothers experience more discrimination at work, lower wages, and more career interruptions than their colleagues. However, flexible work policies that value care work and redefine leadership can address the impact of motherhood on women’s career progression and address the underrepresentation of women and mothers in leadership. 

Surveying the latest evidence on the effects of motherhood on career progression, our experts have found evidence of the ‘motherhood penalty’. When mothers enter the workforce, they experience lower wages, higher turnover rates, more frequent employment transitions, and more hiring discrimination than men. 

We found that...

• Mothers are often discriminated against in the workplace and are underrepresented in leadership roles.
• Unrealistic expectations of time availability and flexibility in leadership positions are preventing mothers from progressing in their careers.
•  Interventions that challenge gender norms and demonstrate value for care can build a culture in which mothers thrive as workers at every level.