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LONDON, Feb 19, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A British woman who has a child early in life can lose more than $1 million in lost earnings and benefits over a lifetime, a survey finds.
The survey, by the Institute for Public Policy Research, finds that British women face a rising child penalty the earlier they have their first baby. After giving birth, almost one-third of the women have to go to a less well-paid job, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
The women lose in total earnings, promotions, benefits and retirement contributions.
The survey says that a woman on average with annual salary of $38,000, who gives birth for the first time at age 24 can expect to lose more than $1 million over her lifetime compared with a childless female. However, if she waits until age 28 to give birth, the money lost over a lifetime drops to $287,000.
The trend of women to put off having children until their late 30s is bad for the economy because taxes will have to rise to keep public spending at current levels, the institute argues.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
