A new study by the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in collaboration with Tilburg University has revealed that German mothers earn substantially less than women without children — a gap that is wider than previously thought. According to the study, in the fourth year after giving birth, mothers earn on average €30,000 (about $35,000) less than women of the same age who do not have children. Earlier research had estimated the difference to be around €20,000, highlighting that the economic cost of motherhood may have been underestimated.
The research, based on data from 186,000 mothers, offers fresh insight into how childbearing affects women’s long-term financial and professional trajectories in Germany. The study was shared exclusively with Reuters, underlining the growing public concern over gender inequality and family-related income disparities in one of Europe’s largest economies.
Greater Challenges for Younger Mothers
The study found that the age at which women become mothers plays a major role in determining the extent of income loss. For women who have their first child before the age of 30, the consequences are particularly severe. Co-author Lukas Riedel explained that younger mothers often face not only reduced earnings but also missed career-building opportunities during the early, most formative years of their professional lives.
On the other hand, women who delay motherhood until later in their careers experience a different pattern. They tend to suffer larger absolute income declines in the short term, often due to reduced working hours after childbirth. However, because these women have already established themselves in the labor market and gone through critical phases of wage growth, they are better positioned to resume their careers in the long run.
The findings underscore persistent challenges in balancing work and family life in Germany and highlight the need for stronger policies to support mothers, especially those entering motherhood early in their careers.
