How menopause impacts women’s careers and financial stability – CTV

March 24, 2025

A recent study suggests women experience a significant fall in earnings in the years following a menopause diagnosis, with more women stopping work and others working fewer hours.

Researchers from University College London, the University of Bergen, Stanford University, and the University of Delaware explored how menopause impacts women’s earnings, employment patterns, and demand for healthcare services.

They found that women experience a 4.3 per cent reduction in their earnings, on average, in the four years following a menopause diagnosis, with losses deepening to 10 per cent by the fourth year.

The study examined data from Sweden and Norway, focusing on women born between 1961 and 1968 who were diagnosed with menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.

According to the study, the loss in income is mainly driven by a decrease in the likelihood of women working full-time and a reduction in their overall hours worked. The study noted that many women either stop working altogether or shift to part-time roles, affecting their financial stability.

The researchers also found that menopause leads to an increase in doctor visits and “a permanent increase in drug utilization – driven by medications used to alleviate the physical and mental health symptoms of menopause.”

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/new-study-shows-10-earnings-loss-for-women-following-menopause-diagnosis/