“Pregnancy Loss Penalty” for Working Women

New data from the Office for National Statistics has uncovered what the Miscarriage Association is calling a “pregnancy loss penalty”—a measurable and long-lasting financial hit for women following miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. And it’s not just about taking time off to recover.

Key Findings

• Women experiencing miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy face a £2,040–£4,100 drop in earnings over 3.5–5 years compared to peers.

• Those who’ve had a missed miscarriage lose an average of £3,511, with 1.5 years of reduced employment likelihood.

• For spontaneous miscarriages, the figure reaches £4,101, again with a 1.5-year reduction in work probability.

• In cases of ectopic pregnancy, women lose £2,040 over 3.5 years and face a similar employment dip.

• The financial toll is even greater for stillbirth (loss of £13,581) and neonatal death (£12,441) over five years, with a 2-year» employment drop peaking at a 4.8% lower employment probability post-event.

As Vicki Robinson, CEO of the Miscarriage Association, explains, the true cost extends far beyond the immediate trauma: many women face prolonged salary stagnation and missed career progression. Some even avoid pursuing new roles, despite better pay or conditions, simply to retain the emotional safety of supportive colleagues and managers.

Emma Sharland, research officer at the ONS, confirms that for many women, pay never fully recovers during the timeframe studied. The financial impact mirrors the emotional fallout—long, complex, and largely unsupported.

What needs to change?

A widespread workplace reform, including:

• Paid leave and tailored support after pregnancy loss

• Acknowledgement from employers that these experiences affect both wellbeing and productivity

• Greater awareness of how early pregnancy loss, even before 24 weeks, can lead to long-term economic disparity

  
  

While organisations like NHS England have begun to offer formal baby loss policies, most sectors still lack clear guidance. And that silence creates its own kind of harm.

This is not just another version of the “motherhood penalty.” It is a separate, specific inequality—one that punishes women for a loss they didn’t choose. If one in six pregnancies ends in miscarriage, then this isn’t niche. It’s a structural issue. And it’s time to treat it that way.