New Policy Institute (NPI) have launched their new research on the links between unpaid care, poverty and employment in the UK. This research uses data from the Family Resources Survey (from 2011/12 to 2013/14) to describe the situation of informal carers in the UK, and how being a carer has implications for employment, income and poverty.
The research finds that:
- 1.2 million carers are in poverty. The poverty rate varies considerably by age, care intensity and relationship to the care recipient.
- The poverty rate is much higher among working-age adults caring for 20 hours or more each week (35%)
- Despite the challenges of combining care with employment, 400,000 people are doing a full working week alongside long hours of care (20 hours or more).
The report is available via this link
If you have any any questions about the research, or if you would like to discuss how NPI might take the findings forward contact ceri.hughes@npi.org.uk