The number of children living in lone parent households which are long-term
workless has fallen 73,000 on the year.
The ONS defines a
workless household as one where no one aged 16 and over is in employment.
Across the UK an average of 18% of households are
workless.
Policy director Lily Caprani said: "A signifi-cant drop in the number of children living in
workless households is good news but, as we know from our work up and down the country, it is deeply concerning that for far too many families a move into work is sadly not a move out of poverty.
Without exception, these
workless parents strongly encouraged their children to lead productive lives.
Sickness, both long-term and temporary, was the main reason given for not working by those people aged 16 to 64 living in
workless households, accounting for 1.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said the fall in
workless families was encouraging, but added: "We can't be complacent".
Unite/CPHVA professional officer Dave Munday stated: 'It is a vicious cycle--those from
workless families will be less likely to find work themselves, and there are many health determinants associated with that.
Report after report has laid out the problems children growing up in
workless households face: they are more likely to fail at school, become involved in criminal behaviour, develop addictions to drink and drugs and ultimately end up
workless themselves.
We will re-fashion institutions to bring the
workless class back into society.
a record low number of
workless households, 608,000 fewer children living in
workless households since 2010, a rise in the proportion of people saving for retirement.
Demonising welfare recipients and setting the working poor against the
workless poor has been a contemptible Conservative strategy for years.
