UK sectors fail to bridge £6,230 maternity pay shortfall, research reveals
Resume.io research revealed that statutory maternity pay (SMP) for 2025 rose slightly to £187.18 per week after the first six weeks.
Resume.io research found a £6,230 gap between statutory maternity pay (SMP) and the average woman’s share of household bills during a year of maternity leave.
The study looked at parental policies from 500 companies and compared SMP to average costs for UK families.
Research revealed that SMP for 2025 rose slightly to £187.18 per week after the first six weeks.
Over the first six weeks, a new mother on average earnings received £639 per week, against weekly household bills of £312.34, giving a surplus of £326.66 each week.
For the following 33 weeks, the shortfall was £125.16 per week and then £312.34 per week for the last 13 weeks, which are unpaid.
The total shortfall worked out at £6,230.74 for the year.
According to Resume.io, without enhanced support, many mothers face impossible choices: returning to work earlier than planned, taking on debt, or struggling to afford the basics for their new family.
Resume.io added that enhanced maternity pay bridges this gap, giving new parents financial stability, peace of mind, and the ability to recover from birth and bond with their baby without immediate financial stress.
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