Mind the maternity pay gap! Which job sectors are letting new mums down?

Here’s what the findings mean for families planning maternity leave — and which industries are most (and least) likely to offer enhanced support.

What is the maternity pay gap?

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) gives you 90% of your average weekly wage for the first 6 weeks, followed by £187.18 per week for the next 33. The final 13 weeks of a full year’s leave are unpaid.

But even when bills are split with a partner, SMP often isn’t enough to cover a new mother's share.

Resume.io calculated that with average household bills sitting at £2,707 per month, a new mum would need to cover £312.34 per week just to stay afloat. That’s where the £6,230 gap comes from.

Without enhanced maternity pay, many families are left with painful choices — return to work early, take on debt, or simply go without.

“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,” Resume.io explains.

Which sectors are leaving new mums short?

Resume.io analysed parental leave policies from 500 companies across the UK to see who’s stepping up — and who’s falling short.

The least supportive sectors for enhanced maternity pay:

• Manufacturing (23% offer enhanced maternity pay)

• Architecture (40%)

• Hospitality & Travel (47%)

• Real Estate (53%)

• Healthcare (54%)

These industries often have longer qualifying periods and fewer enhanced benefits, meaning even experienced employees may not be eligible for top-ups.

Which industries offer the best maternity leave packages?

In more family-friendly sectors, enhanced maternity pay is becoming the norm — not the exception.

The most supportive industries for maternity leave include:

• Government Administration (94% offer enhanced maternity pay)

• Food & Beverage (94%)

• Marketing & Advertising (90%)

• Legal (89%)

• Biotech & Pharmaceuticals (89%)

Shorter qualifying periods and more generous top-up packages help new parents manage the financial and emotional load of starting a family.

What about dads and partners?

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has been around since 2015, but uptake is still low — and this research hints at one reason why.

Only 36% of employers offer enhanced shared parental leave. Without extra financial support, many families simply can’t afford for both parents to take extended time off.

Top sectors for enhanced shared parental leave:

• Construction (75%)

• Legal (72%)

• Government Administration (65%)

Least supportive sectors:

• Manufacturing (0%)

• Food & Beverage (12%)

• Careers & HR (20%)

• Architecture (20%)

For couples hoping to share childcare more equally, those figures can make or break a plan.

What does this mean for new mums?

With over 600,000 babies born in the UK each year, plus families growing through adoption and fertility treatments, fair and flexible parental leave is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ — it’s essential.

The right maternity package can be the difference between thriving and just about surviving. As Resume.io puts it: “Better maternity benefits are linked to improved maternal mental health, stronger family wellbeing, and greater workplace loyalty.”

Pics: Getty Images

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