Despite unemployment levels falling, the number of women out of work has risen by 42,000 and the IPPR has challenged the Government’s assertion that its welfare policy will “make work pay” and encourage more people into work. A total of 260,000 women have now been out of work for over a year.
Dalia Ben-Galim, IPPR Associate Director, said: “Cuts to childcare tax credits mean that for some women, work no longer pays and they are better off staying at home.”
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that Britain is one of the most expensive countries in the world when it comes to looking after children. It costs an average £97 a week for 25 hours of care, which increases to £115 a week in London and the South East.
According to the Daycare Trust the cost of a nursery place for a child aged over two has risen twice as quickly as wages and fees have increased by 4.8 per cent since last year, meaning any savings available for families will be more important than ever.
Ben-Galim went on to say: “During the recession, unemployment among men increased much more than among women. But our analysis of the latest figures shows that this experience is now being reversed, in large part because of the government’s public spending cuts.”
“Women are increasingly joining the ranks of the long–term unemployed and the prospects for female employment are likely to remain gloomy for some time to come,” she added.
The IPPR has called upon the Government to reform the welfare state in order to provide universal childcare for all children, so as to encourage full employment.
"For more information, please contact Glazers, Chartered Accountants London or visit www.glazers.co.uk
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