Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Mothers with full-time jobs need to work for up to four months a year in order to break even on childcare costs, new research has revealed.
According to a study from the Family Investments organisation, mothers in the South-west have to work almost 19 weeks a year before recovering the average costs of a childminder or nursery, compared to 15 weeks in the West Midlands.
The figures will add weight to calls for the Government to take action to stop the spiralling cost of childcare which, according to recent reports prevents up to one million women with young families returning to work.
On average, a mother in Britain spends £7,127 per year on childcare, with costs in London rising to £9,283.
Mothers living in the North of England tend to need to work for a week less per year than those living in the South to break even on their childcare costs, researchers said.
However, Yorkshire and Humberside was a notable exception, with mothers needing to work an above-national average of 17.7 weeks a year.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments