Fall in proportion of Doncaster households in work

Fewer Doncaster households had all adults in work last year, figures show.
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The Institute for Public Policy Research criticised the country's social safety net, as the proportion of working UK households dropped for the first time in nearly a decade.

Office for National Statistics data shows 49,317 households in Doncaster had all working age occupants aged 16 or over in employment in 2020 – 53.3% of all those in the area.

This was down from 55.3% the year before.

There were 15,777 households in the area with no adults in workThere were 15,777 households in the area with no adults in work
There were 15,777 households in the area with no adults in work
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There were also 15,777 households in the area with no adults in work, which at 17.1%, was also down from 17.8% in 2019.

Meanwhile, the proportion of mixed households – with at least one working and one workless adult – increased from 26.9% to 29.6% over this period.

Across England, 58.7% of households were classed as working in 2020, above the UK-wide average of 58.4%.

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The proportion of UK working households was down from 58.8% in 2019 – the first annual fall since 2011.

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The IPPR said the furlough scheme helped prevent further unemployment last year, but the number of workless households will almost certainly rise this year as it ends.

Henry Parkes, senior economist at the think tank, added: "The UK social safety net is truly threadbare for workless families without other incomes.

"We have just seen the biggest overnight cut to the welfare state in its history, in the form of the end to the £20 uplift in universal credit.

"This has come at a time of potentially spiralling food and fuel prices alongside chronic insecurity brought about the pandemic as we head into an uncertain winter. The end to furlough and other support schemes will not help matters."

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He called on the Government to restore the £20 uplift, as well as helping people back to work in other ways, including supporting more freely available childcare.

The ONS figures showed there were 2.9 million workless households in the UK last year – containing around 1.3 million children.

In Doncaster, there were 6,402 children in households where no adult had a job last year​ – up from 4,924 in 2019.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.

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