Work and child poverty: new research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

This in-depth research in six deprived communities reinforces the Foundation's previous findings that big changes in relation to work are needed to make further progress on reducing child poverty.

The new study shows that many people in disadvantaged communities are trapped in a cycle of 'poor work/no work' that fails to lift them out of poverty. It highlights the tensions between work and parenting with low-pay forcing some to work for very long hours, harming family life. Many low-paid workers were both unable to pay for childcare and worked in jobs without the flexibility to support parenting.

The study also questions the role that training or education plays in getting people into the job market or helping career progression. The experience of people in these communities was that there was often little opportunity to progress in their current job, even when they had acquired new skills or qualifications.

Click here to read the summary and report.