Not enough jobs, not enough hours, not enough pay: shocking rise of in-work poverty in Wales revealed in new JRF report
More working families in
Wales are now living in poverty compared to the number of out of work families,
according to a new report published today (19 September) by
the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).
Almost 700,000 people in
Wales live in poverty – nearly a quarter of all people in the country, but its
starkest finding shows that those who are working and live in poverty now
exceeds the number of those who are not in work. 51% of working-age adults and
children in poverty are from working families.
The research, by a team
at the New Policy Institute (NPI), blames the rise of
in-work poverty on underemployment – where people lack the paid work they want –
and low pay. 30% of families working part-time live in poverty, compared to 7%
for full-time working families. Meanwhile, a quarter of employees earning less
than the Living Wage of £7.45 per hour are in poverty, compared to only 3% of
those earning more.
The report highlights
the regional differences of both in-work and out-of-work poverty across Wales.
The West and North West have proportionately high shares of in-work poverty,
pointing to greater levels of in-work poverty in rural areas.
The report calls on
governments in Wales and Westminster to focus relentlessly on job creation and
not just welfare reform, and work with public services and employers towards
paying a Living Wage. Policy makers and public services must also ensure poorer
families can access essential services – currently, some areas needing the
highest levels of medical and social care receive the worst.
Peter Kenway, Director
at NPI, said: “This report shows there are not enough jobs, not enough hours and
not enough pay for people in Wales. These are families who are going out to work
but still have so little they are living below the poverty line and struggling
to make ends meet. Low pay and low hours go hand in hand: job creation is a
priority, but this must lead to better pay and more hours to tackle in-work
poverty.”
Source