Since 2010, child poverty in working households has surged by over 1,300 children a week, resulting in 3 million children living in poverty by 2023 according to new TUC analysis published today. This increase, driven by wage stagnation, insecure work, and social security cuts, is exacerbated by austerity measures and council funding reductions.
The analysis shows that the number of kids living in poverty with at least one parent in work increased by 900,000 (44%) between 2010 and 2023 – the equivalent to 1,350 a week.
The TUC says in 2023 there were 3 million kids in working households living below the breadline in the UK.
The report says says that a “toxic combination” of wage stagnation, rising insecure work and cuts to social security have had a “devastating impact” on family budgets.
Real wages are still worth less today than in 2008 and the union body estimates that had they grown at their pre-crisis trend since the Tories took power the average worker would be over £14,000 a year better off.
And separate analysis from the TUC shows that the number of people in insecure work, low-paid work has increased by nearly 1 million during the Conservatives’ time in office to a record 4.1 million.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“No child in Britain should be growing up below the breadline.
“But under the Conservatives we have seen a huge in rise in working families being pushed into poverty.
“A toxic combination of pay stagnation, rising insecure work and cuts to social security have had a devastating impact on family budgets.
“We urgently need an economic reset and a government that will make work pay. Reducing child poverty must be a priority in the years ahead.”
Salford, heavily impacted by austerity, has faced drastic reductions in council funding, leading to cuts in essential services for vulnerable families. The Salford Poverty Truth Commission has highlighted the devastating effects of these cuts, advocating for the reversal of austerity measures and reinvestment in local services. They stress that austerity has not only deepened poverty but also entrenched it, making it difficult for families to break the cycle.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) emphasizes the inadequacy of low-wage, insecure jobs and weakened social security. Despite being employed, many parents cannot earn enough to meet basic living costs, and the safety net intended to protect them has eroded.
The IPPR calls for an urgent economic reset, proposing measures such as increasing the minimum wage, enhancing workers’ rights, and reversing cuts to social security and council budgets. These actions are essential to create a more equitable society and break the cycle of poverty affecting millions of children.
Salford’s Poverty Truth Commission underscores the importance of community-driven solutions. IIn the past they have highlight the need for fair wages, robust social security, and comprehensive support services to ensure every child can thrive. Without significant policy changes, the cycle of deprivation and inequality will persist, with devastating long-term effects on children and families.
