In 1996/97, families where at least one adult worked made up 47 per cent of households with an income of less than 60 per cent of the national average - the measure of relative poverty.
But the latest figures for 2006/07 show these families now make up 58 per cent of those falling below the relative poverty line. In comparison, families where no adult worked are making up a smaller proportion of the total, declining from 53 per cent in 1996/97 to 42 per cent in 2006/07.
Martin Narey, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, said: "The government needs to acknowledge that, for many families, moving into work does not automatically mean moving out of poverty - and to do more to ensure that, in future, it does."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
