597,000 working-age adults in the South West are living in poverty
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New official statistics show working-age poverty in the South West fell little before the pandemic, despite employment growth
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‘Levelling up pay will put fuel in the tank for a faster recovery’, says TUC
TUC analysis of new official poverty figures published today has found that working-age poverty in the South West has barely fallen since 2010/11, despite regional unemployment falling significantly in the years before the pandemic.
The proportion of working-age people living in poverty was 20% in 2010/11, and 19% in 2019/20, according to today’s new figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The poor progress comes despite unemployment in the South West falling from 6.4% in 2011 to 3.2% in 2020.
The TUC says that as we recover from the pandemic, we must make sure that the new jobs created are better quality and do not leave families stuck in working poverty.
TUC Regional Secretary for the South West Nigel Costley said:
“Hard work should pay off for everyone in the South West, no matter who you are or the job you do. But millions of our workers are denied a fair share of the wealth they create.
“The Prime Minister keeps talking about levelling up – let’s see it for the low paid. Get the minimum wage up to £10 an hour without delay. And give key workers the pay rise they earned.
“This isn’t just about doing the right thing for workers. High streets and business in the South West won’t recover if people have nothing to spend. Pay growth is fuel in the tank. It will drive our recovery much faster, supporting business growth and job creation.”
- Changes needed to end working poverty: The TUC is calling on the government to improve pay and increase the supply of well-paid work by:
- Increase the minimum wage to at least £10 an hour
- Make sure all key workers get a decent pay rises
- Make permanent the £20 per week increase in universal credit (and legacy benefits)
- Raise statutory sick pay to £330 per week (to match the level of the real Living Wage) and extend to the two million low-paid workers currently excluded
- Protect the freedom of all working people to have a union in their workplace negotiating fair pay
- Proportions of workers in (1) working-age poverty and (2) unemployment for UK nations and regions*
|
UK nation or region |
(1) Working-age poverty % |
(2) Unemployment rate % |
||||
|
2010/11 |
2019/20 |
Change (ppts) |
Jan-Mar 2011 |
Jan-Mar 2020 |
Change (ppts) |
|
|
South West |
20 |
19 |
-1 |
6.4 |
3.2 |
-3.2 |
|
UK |
21 |
21 |
-1 |
7.8 |
4 |
-3.8 |
* A worker is considered in working-age poverty if their household income is less than 60% of median household income (after housing costs).
Source: Poverty figures are taken from Households Below Average Incomes 1994/95-2019/20 and unemployment figures from the Labour Force Survey, both of which are publications of the Office for National Statistics. Poverty figures are a three-year average, ending with the cited year.
- Breakdown by local authority
|
|
Number of people in working age in poverty *
|
South West
|
597,000
|
Bristol
|
56,029
|
Cornwall
|
58,326
|
Devon, county
|
82,507
|
Plymouth
|
29,304
|
Bournemouth,Christchurch & Poole
|
42,552
|
Dorset
|
36,864
|
Gloucestershire
|
67,917
|
Somerset, county
|
57,107
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Wiltshire
|
52,444
|
North Somerset
|
21,956
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Bath and North East Somerset
|
21,956
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Torbay
|
13,566
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Forest of Dean
|
9,026
|
Exeter
|
15,880
|
Gloucester
|
14,361
|
Swindon
|
24,818
|
*Estimated figures by local area are by apportioning the total number of workers in working-age poverty with population aged 16-64 (working age population of 2019.) Data source: Office of National Statistics
- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 49 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.
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