A new industry index has revealed sharp disparities in how UK employers support working parents, with sectors like manufacturing and architecture falling far behind leaders such as law, government and financial services.
A Parental Support Index from Resume.io analysed the policies of 500 UK companies to assess the extent of enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave across industries. While 74 percent of UK employers offer enhanced maternity leave, just 36 percent extend the same to shared parental leave – and the gap between sectors is significant.
At the bottom of the rankings is the manufacturing sector, with an overall index score of just 19.69. Fewer than a quarter (23%) of manufacturing employers offer enhanced maternity leave, and just 8% enhance paternity or adoption benefits. Not a single firm in this sector offered enhanced shared parental leave, with the average qualifying period sitting at nearly a year – effectively excluding many new hires from receiving any extra support.
Architecture also scored poorly (37.82), with only 40% of firms enhancing maternity leave and just 20% improving benefits for other parental needs. Researchers warned that such limited support reinforces outdated gender roles and makes it harder for both parents to manage family responsibilities equitably.
Other sectors performing poorly include hospitality and travel (46.30), real estate (47.39), and transportation and travel (47.61). In many of these industries, unpredictable schedules and shift work compound the challenges faced by new parents.
Top Five Family-Friendly Sectors
At the other end of the spectrum, the legal sector emerged as the most supportive, with an index score of 75.03. A high percentage of employers (89%) offer enhanced maternity and adoption leave, and 83% provide improved paternity support. Shared parental leave is also significantly more accessible (72%) than in most industries.
Government administration came a close second (74.74), thanks to a standout 94% of employers enhancing maternity leave and a shorter-than-average qualifying period of 37 weeks. Financial services (71.84), media and publishing (71.57) and biotech and pharmaceuticals (68.98) also ranked highly, offering relatively comprehensive support packages for all types of parents.
Sector-Wide Trends and Gaps
Across all industries analysed:
- 74% of employers enhance maternity leave
- 58% enhance paternity leave
- 52% enhance adoption leave
- Only 36% enhance shared parental leave
- Just 12% offer fertility or IVF-related support
- The average qualifying period for enhanced benefits is 44 weeks
The findings suggest a systemic lack of consistency in how UK employers approach parental support, with real consequences for family wellbeing and workplace equality.
Why It Matters
With more than 600,000 births each year in the UK and increasing numbers of families formed through adoption or assisted fertility, the need for inclusive parental benefits is growing. Long qualifying periods and minimal enhancements can leave many parents without sufficient time or flexibility to manage new family responsibilities.
“Supporting working parents isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a business imperative,” said a Resume.io spokesperson. “Our research shows that industries investing in family-friendly policies are better positioned to attract and retain top talent. We hope these findings inspire real change across all sectors.”