Despite historically high employment rates, in-work poverty has been rising steadily in the UK for nearly two decades. This reality challenges the assumption that work alone is a reliable route out of poverty.
The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has seen a significant increase in working individuals and families seeking support across England and Wales. Through our eleven regional centres and over 800 local volunteer groups, many in areas of high deprivation, the SVP provides essential frontline services. These include access to food, white goods, energy and debt advice, and help with transport costs, all tailored to local needs.
This report offers a unique and grounded perspective on in-work poverty, combining lived experience from the SVP’s grassroots network with national data and analysis. A survey of SVP members and advisers conducted over the past year reveals that in-work poverty is a complex and evolving issue. It disproportionately affects certain demographics such as part-time workers, single-parent families, and those in precarious or low-wage sectors like hospitality and support services.
Three key findings emerged from the SVP’s research:
1. While anyone can experience in-work poverty, the highest risk groups are households with children, single parents, and those relying solely on part-time work.
2. There is no single cause. Low pay, high living costs, childcare and caring responsibilities, health issues, housing costs, and insecure employment all contribute to in-work poverty.
3. Affected individuals often face stark daily choices between food, heating, and rent. Many fall behind on bills, rely on foodbanks, and suffer from poor mental health, even while employed. While the SVP’s work on the ground can mitigate some of the impacts, we recognise the importance of tackling the structural causes leading to in-work poverty.
The report concludes with practical, evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at creating lasting, preventative solutions to tackle in-work poverty across the UK.
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