Tackling child poverty priority families overview

Having paid work can be an effective way out of poverty, but having a job is not always enough

UK level data from Family Resources Survey 2020-23 shows that priority groups are more likely to still be in poverty despite working.

Most children (88%) in the UK live in a household where someone is in paid work.

But children in certain types of households are less likely to live in a working household. For example, children of young mothers or single parents are less likely to live in a working household. To note that a working household refers to someone in the household being in paid work.

Just under a quarter of children (24%) in the UK who live in a working household are in relative poverty after housing costs. But the poverty risk in working households is higher for children in certain types of households. For example, children in minority ethnic households, households with three or more children, or households with young mothers are more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs (even though someone in the household is in paid work).

Almost all children (99%) in the UK who are in none of the priority groups live in working households. These children are less likely to be in poverty compared to children in working households with any of the characteristics.