Poverty for care workers’ kids

More than one in four (28%) children with care worker parents are growing up in poverty, a new TUC analysis has revealed.

The research, by Landman Economics, found that 220,000 children with at least one social care worker as a parent are living in poverty, with the figure set to rise to nearly 300,000 by the end of this Parliament without swift action to boost pay and conditions.

Child poverty is also “rampant” in other key worker households, the study found. One in four children with public transport worker parents are growing up poor, as are one in eight kids of local government workers and one in nine with teaching staff as parents. And nearly a tenth of nurses’ children are living below the breadline.

The TUC published its findings as workers from across Britain gathered for a mass rally and lobby to tell MPs about the reality of the cost-of-living crisis last month (see Labour Research, November 2022, page 5).

Days later, trade unionists were among thousands of protestors taking part in the People’s Assembly “Britain is Broken” march through central London. Protestors demanded an immediate general election, action on low pay, and the repeal of anti-trade union laws.