Number Of NI Children In Workless Households Highest In UK

Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of children living in long-term workless households across the UK for the third year in a row, a study has found.

According to the Office for National Statistics, some 14.5% of children lived in a house where all occupants aged 16 or over did not work last year.

Children who grow up in workless families are almost twice as likely to skip school, compared to those whose parents work.

Around three-quarters of the children in these families fail to get five GCSEs at grade C or above, and are more likely to be unemployed in their adult life.

Despite having the largest percentage in the UK for the past three years, the figure has been gradually decreasing. It stood at 15.6% in 2014.

The definition of a long-term workless household is where all adults are economically inactive or unemployed, and left their last job 12 months ago or have never worked in a paid job.

Esther McVey, the Department for Work and Pensions secretary, said the overall UK figure was the lowest in over 10 years.

"Over the last eight years we have achieved something quite extraordinary, transforming this country's employment opportunities and with it, children's futures.

"And today we should celebrate that the number of children living in long-term workless households is at its lowest level for over a decade."



(JG/CM)