1-in-8 children in Wales are living in a long-term jobless household

One-in-eight (12.7%) children in Wales are living in a long-term workless household – higher than the UK average of 11.4%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It is estimated that in 2014, 67,000 children in Wales were in a household where all adults had left their recent job more than a year ago, or never been in paid employment.

This was calculated using the annual population survey. Children are referred to those aged under 16 and adults are 16 or over.

Russell George AM, Welsh Conservative Shadow Spokesperson for Economy, Transport and Sport, said:

“The report is a damning indictment of the Labour-led Welsh Government’s failure to help more people get back into work.

“Research shows that children living with long-term unemployed parents do less well at school and are at a higher risk of being unemployed later in life.

“Conversely, the OECD has found that children from better off families have better health, higher skills and are less likely to be bullied in school.

“The Welsh Labour Government must now use the devolved levers available to them to create more work opportunities by backing businesses and lifting the arbitrary age cap on their flagship jobs scheme.”