Half of women would consider remaining childless over career risk

Half of women would consider not having children because of the risk it might pose to their career, according to a new study. 

The survey, commissioned by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), found that 67% of women of childbearing age are worried about the impact that having a baby might have on their job.

Half of the women surveyed who don’t currently have children also said their current career does not offer them the flexibility they would need to care for a family.

“AAT’s findings, whilst sad, are unfortunately not surprising,” said AAT career coach Aimee Bateman.

“In my work I have come across a lot of women who worry about balancing their care and career commitments or who have decided to retrain as their current role provides little flexibility.

“This is a shame as working mums are brilliant employees who can often get more done in less time. This is what is important: the quality of work people produce, not the number of hours that they sit at their desk.”

The research surveyed 2,000 women, half with children and half without.

Natalie Thornhill