1. Child poverty and parents’
employment in London
Kate Bell
London Campaign Co-ordinator
Kbell@cpag.org.uk
www.cpag.org.uk

2. Why are children in London poor?
• London has the highest rate of child poverty of any
English region, with as many poor children as in Scotland
and Wales put together.
• Thirty-seven per cent (592,000) of all children in London
live below the poverty line.
• London Child Poverty Commission (2008):
• The underlying causes of this entrenched child poverty
are surprisingly simple – the employment rate among
parents, in particular mothers, is much lower than
elsewhere in the country, driven in part by a lack of part-
time jobs and flexible childcare, as well as higher housing,
childcare and living costs.

3. What has been happening to child poverty
rates in London?

4. What’s been happening to parental
employment rates?
Worklessness among couple households with children
1986-2012
30
25
20
Inner Lon
15
Outer Lon
10
S East
5
0

5. What’s been happening to parental
employment rates?
• .

6. What’s the size of the parental employment
gap in London?
Employment rates in London (%) 2011

7. Why are parental employment rates still low?
• Cost of childcare 24 per cent higher in London.
• Low levels of part time jobs – key lacks are in
administrative and secretarial occupations.
• No London premium at lower end of Labour
market – makes part time work difficult.
• No dedicated cross London parental employment
scheme.
• (Work programme performing poorly for lone
parents – 2.5 per cent job outcomes for LPs (3
per cent in London) compared to 3.5 per cent for
all participants)

8. What can Local Authorities do on
employment?
• Lead by example: advertise all vacancies as available for
part time and flexible working.
• Use community benefit clauses within procurement
arrangements to ensure that companies offer (flexible)
jobs to local residents.
• Consider developing targeted employment programmes
for parents (cf Islington, Newham)
• Introduce specific targets on parental employment in child
poverty strategies.
• Prioritise childcare – working with Camden to investigate
options for LAs.

9. What could regional government
do?
• Prioritise parents within London Skills
and Employment Plan.
• Consider using ESF funding on
parental employment programmes – in
partnership with local authorities?
• Part time jobs pledge
• Part time travel card?

10. What could regional government
do?
• Prioritise parents within London Skills
and Employment Plan.
• Consider using ESF funding on
parental employment programmes – in
partnership with local authorities?
• Part time jobs pledge
• Part time travel card?