Working poverty at its highest since devolution

WORKING poverty in Scotland is at its highest level since devolution, according to figures highlighted by Scottish Labour.

Since 1998/99 the number of people living in poverty in a household where at least one adult works has increased from about 440,000 to around 610,000.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the rise indicated the Scottish economy is not working as well as it should be.

The figures – which show in-work poverty levels after housing costs are taken into account – were published by the Scottish Government last month.

They show the proportion of people in poverty in working households stands at 58% for 2015/16, up from 39% in 1998/99 and up from 43% in 2006/07, around the time the SNP took power.

A total of 420,000 working-age adults were in in-work poverty after housing costs in 2015/16, compared with 280,000 in 1998/99, while the figure for children increased from 150,000 to 180,000.

In-work poverty refers to those living in households where at least one member of the household is working, either full or part-time, but where the household income is below the relative poverty threshold.

Ms Dugdale said: “A decade of division from this SNP government has delivered the highest levels of working poverty since devolution.

“Rather than looking to rerun a referendum campaign Scots don’t want, the SNP should be focused on building a Scottish economy that works for working-class families. It’s a reflection that our economy is not working as well as it should be.”