Mar 25, 2025

New study reveals that workplaces can also affect the earnings drop Share Women are experiencing an earnings reduction of up to 10% years following a menopause diagnosis, according to a new study. The study — conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL), the University of Bergen, Stanford University, and the University of Delaware — looked at data from Sweden and Norway to determine the economic impact of menopause on women. It calculated that women experience an average of a 4.3% drop in earnings in the four years following a menopause diagnosis, with the reduction widening to 10% by the fourth year. Researchers said the drop is primarily driven by the decrease in the likelihood of working, as well as the reduction in contracted hours worked. The menopause penalty Professor Gabriella Conti from UCL Economics, the lead author of the report, said women's experience also varies, with some experiencing more impact than others. "Graduate women tend on average to be better informed of menopause symptoms and more aware of their treatment options," Conti said in a statement . "This may mean they are better equipped to adapt and continue working throughout their menopause." It noted that women employed in smaller and private sector firms experience a greater drop in earnings than those with larger and public-sector employers. "The negative impacts on the labour market and increased use of social transfers are concentrated in women without a college degree as well as women working in workplaces which are larger or with a smaller share of female coworkers aged 45 or older," the study stated . Policies supporting women The study adds to growing research focusing on the impact of menopause on women. Maven Clinic, in a study last year, found that 33% of millennials in the United States said menopause symptoms impacted their ability to perform work. As a result, these respondents have: Switched to a less demanding career (15%) Avoided taking on new projects (28%) Missed work for healthcare appointments (40%) Were unable to return in-person to their office (19%) More than three in four of Maven's respondents (76%) said getting a menopause benefit would impact their desire to stay with their current employer. "Though millennials are relatively new to menopause, their problems are not: they join Gen X in discovering how poorly equipped both the modern workplace and doctor's office are to ease this life transition," said Dr. Neel Shah, Chief Medical Officer of Maven Clinic, in a statement . Meanwhile, Conti said better access to information and related care would help reduce the "menopause penalty" towards women. "Our findings suggest that better information and improved access to menopause-related care are crucial to eliminating the menopause penalty and ensuring that workplaces can better support women during this transition," Conti said. Free newsletter Our daily newsletter is FREE and keeps you up-to-date with the world of HR. Please complete the form below and click on subscribe for daily newsletters from HRD Australia. SIGN UP