Low-income parents more exposed to job loss

Parents on the lowest incomes have been nine times more likely to report the risk of losing their job due to school closures.

This finding was published last month by campaigning groups exposing the pressures faced by families in relation to school closures and managing paid work.

The study — from the organisations Women’s Budget Group, Fawcett Society, Women’s Budget Group Northern Ireland, Women’s Equality Network Wales, Close the Gap and Engender — shows parents on lower incomes reporting significant financial implications of school closures.

It finds that nine times more parents on the lowest incomes (annual household income of £20,000 or below) reporting the risk of losing their job compared to higher-income parents (annual household income of £40,000 and above).

Furthermore, 12% of parents earning below £20,000 a year, and 13% of parents earning between £20,000 and £40,000 said they’d have to take unpaid time off due to school closures or their children having to self-isolate. This compared to 7% of parents on more than £40,000.

The data also revealed gender differences, with twice as many working mums reporting they’d have to take time off with no pay due to school closures or a sick child compared to dads.

Polling also showed part-time mums are more likely to report they would have to take time off on no pay — 20% of part-time mums compared to 12% of those who work full-time.

https://wbg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/General-parents-FINAL-VERSION.pdf