THE JOBLESS GENERATIONS
Staggering one-in-four Glasgow homes have no working adults
MORE than one in four homes in parts of Scotland have no working adults, worrying new figures show.
The country has a higher rate of workless households than the rest of the UK as a whole, sparking fears of communities becoming ‘entrenched’ in poverty.
More than 25 per cent of all homes in Glasgow have no working adults – the second highest figure in the UK, with concerns that a generation is growing up with no experience of the work ethic.
Dundee, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire also rank among the worst, with tens of thousands out of work and fears some areas are being ‘left behind’ by the SNP.
The findings have led to calls for the Scottish Government to do more to boost the economy. Critics blame its ‘failure’ for harming the chances of many to find jobs.
Scottish Conservative economy spokesman Dean Lockhart said: ‘These figures show that the SNP still has a lot of work to do in specific areas to get Scots back into work.
‘The SNP’s failure to drive the Scottish economy inevitably hits the poorest areas the hardest, the very people who need more economic opportunities.
‘The SNP risks creating entrenched deprivation in certain areas unless it revitalises the economy throughout Scotland.’
A regional breakdown of workless households was published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday. It shows that Glasgow had 61,632 homes without an adult
in work last year – 25.6 per cent of the households in the city.
This is up from 2017, when there were 61,553 workless households, 24.7 per cent of homes.
The ONS report reveals that ‘Glasgow City was continually among the top ten areas for having the highest levels of workless households.
It also indicates that the city was ranked second-highest over the past four years, behind hartlepool, in County Durham.
Scottish Labour finance spokesman James Kelly said: ‘It is absolutely unacceptable that in a so-called modern, progressive society there are parts of the country where no one works in one in four households.
‘The SNP Government’s fair work agenda is failing, and it’s beyond time for the SNP to start using the powers of the Scottish parliament to get people into work and allow them to support their families.’
In Dundee, there were 13,122 workless households – 25.2 per cent of the total – while 9,541 homes in east Ayrshire had no working adult – 24.5 per cent.
West Dunbartonshire had 7,258 workless households in 2018 – 24.1 per cent of homes – and North Ayrshire had 9,210 households with no adult in work – 21.8 per cent.
The report noted that Glasgow, Dundee, North Ayrshire
‘Absolutely unacceptable’
and West Dunbartonshire had regularly struggled with high levels of workless households and therefore were listed among the top ten worst areas across the UK between 2014 and 2018.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie rennie said: ‘Scotland still has too many households where no one has been able to find work.
‘The SNP have had 12 years to try to get the Scottish economy up to speed but too many areas have been left behind.
‘That’s why we need comprehensive reform of the business rates system to encourage firms to invest in communities, as well as a transformative investment in education and mental health so that everyone can achieve their potential.’
Across Scotland, there were 1.42million households in which all adults were in work, 309,000 in which no adults were in work and 453,000 which included both unemployed and working adults.
The proportion of workless households in Scotland in 2018 was 17.1 per cent, down from 18 per cent in 2017. Across the whole UK, the figure fell from 14.7 per cent to 14.5 per cent last year.
The reasons for worklessness among 16 to 64-year-olds included disability, sickness, unemployment and early retirement.
Business Minister Jamie hepburn said: ‘The number of workless households in Scotland has fallen for the second consecutive year, with the proportion of children living in workless households also reducing.
‘however, we know that people across Scotland are struggling to make ends meet, with poverty on the rise and increased food bank use directly linked to UK Government welfare cuts, benefit sanctions and the flawed Universal Credit.’
Last year, a study compiling 40 years of census data found Glasgow has the top ten most deprived areas in Britain.
These included Calton in the east end, Baillieston, Springburn, Govan and Drumchapel.
Glasgow also has the lowest life expectancy in Scotland, with the average male living to 76.8 years and women to 82.8 years.
By contrast, east renfrewshire has the highest life expectancy, with the average male living to 80.5 years and females to 83.7 years.
IT should be a source of national shame that there is not a single working adult in more than one in four households in some parts of Scotland.
In these hotspots, entire generations of families are trapped in a cycle of unemployment, while children are brought up facing horrifying poverty.
The problem is getting worse in some of the hardest-hit areas, such as Glasgow, and this should send a clear message to politicians that urgent action is needed.
Of course, some of these households will contain people who – through no fault of their own – are unable to work. But others are the victims of Scotland’s sluggish economic growth.
Rather than increasing taxes on businesses and individuals, the SNP Government must refocus on boosting the economy and creating the growth and opportunities that can finally halt this depressing circle of hopelessness.