With Mother’s Day approaching on Sunday, 15th March 2026, new analysis highlights the substantial unpaid labour that mothers in the UK undertake in raising families and managing households. The analysis, conducted by discount code website NetVoucherCodes using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, draws on time use surveys to quantify the daily unpaid work performed by employed women with dependent children.
According to ONS figures from March 2022, employed women living with dependent children spent an average of 84 minutes per day on unpaid childcare and 169 minutes per day on unpaid household work, such as cooking and cleaning. These figures mark a return to pre-pandemic levels for childcare after temporary increases during lockdowns. Together, this totals 253 minutes, or over four hours of unpaid labour per day. Slightly higher figures (85 minutes on childcare and 167 minutes on household work) were cited in some reports, but verified ONS data from Families and the Labour Market, UK: 2021 (updated March 2022) confirm the 84- and 169-minute averages.
Using the verified daily averages, mothers accumulate significant hours in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day. Over roughly 74 days, from the start of the year to 15th March, the total unpaid work per mother amounts to approximately 310 hours and 48 minutes. Valuing this labour at the UK National Living Wage for ages 21 and over (£12.21 per hour as of April 2025), the individual contribution equates to roughly £3,794.87. Many mothers earn above this rate, with average UK hourly earnings reported at £19.67, highlighting the higher potential valuation.
There are an estimated 6.3 million mothers with dependent children aged 15 or under in the UK. Collectively, their unpaid work represents an immense 1.96 billion hours in the referenced period, valued at £23.9 billion when calculated at the National Living Wage rate. Rebecca Bebbington, personal finance expert at NetVoucherCodes, commented: “These findings really highlight something we often overlook: the invisible, constant effort that keeps families running. Mothers aren’t just caretakers, they’re multitasking, problem-solving, and emotionally labouring in ways that rarely get noticed. Mother’s Day is a chance to pause and acknowledge that work, and a small act of appreciation, whether a card, flowers, or a thoughtful treat, can go a long way in saying ‘thank you’ for everything they do, every single day.”
Broader ONS time use data, including recent bulletins from 2023 and 2024, consistently show women spending significantly more time on unpaid household and care activities than men. Women averaged over three hours daily on unpaid work in recent periods, highlighting the persistent gender disparity despite high employment rates among mothers.
As Mother’s Day approaches, this analysis serves as a reminder of the economic and emotional value of mothers’ unrecognised contributions. Simple gestures of thanks can help acknowledge the constant, essential work mothers perform every day.