The widely unexpected announcement of an expansion to free childcare in the spring budget shone a spotlight on the quandary faced by millions of working parents in the UK.
In addition to the high costs of childcare in this country – which are among the highest of any OECD member relative to the average wage – a general lack of support for parents at work has prompted a growing number, especially mothers, to leave employment for the long term. About 1.1 million Britons are economically inactive because they have caring responsibilities, according to the Office for National Statistics. Of these, 1 million are women.
A survey by BlckBx, a provider of assistance for workers with family caring responsibilities, has found that 63% of working parents feel that having children has had a negative impact on their careers. The firm’s founder and CEO, Kath Clarke, reports that women are more than two times more likely than men to feel less ambitious after becoming a parent.