Children living in workless households falls in the North West

Figures released by the ONS today show that the percentage of children in the North West living in a household with no working adults has fallen from 18% in 2010, to just 13%.

A Government report released earlier this year found that children living in workless families are significantly more disadvantaged, and achieve poorer educational outcomes than other children including those living in lower-income working families.

In comparison, three-quarters of children from workless families moved out of poverty when their parents found full-time work.

Employment Minister, Damian Hinds said: “These latest figures are further proof that the strength of the economy is benefitting the North West. Our welfare reforms are encouraging more people into work, improving families' security and children's life chances.

“There's more still to do and we will build further on this progress with the roll out of Universal Credit, ensuring it always pays to be in work.”

In May, the ONS confirmed that the number of workless households in the UK has fallen to a record low. Those figures showed that the number of children in workless households had fallen by 6% in just a year – equivalent to 90,000 children across the UK.

The latest employment figures show that there are a record 31.01 million people in work, and the unemployment rate (4.5%) is the lowest level since 1975.

Since 2010 income inequality has fallen and the proportion of people living in relative poverty is near its lowest level since the 1980s. In recent years the Government has doubled free childcare, introduced Universal Credit and increased the National Living Wage and tax free Personal Allowance.

Under Universal Credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system. Universal Credit is designed to mirror the way many people in work are paid, with budgeting advice and benefit advances available for anyone who needs extra help.