Cost of living crisis: four in five South Lanarkshire households in work

As the cost of living crisis bites for many across the UK, new figures show four in five households in South Lanarkshire have at least one working-age adult in employment.

Last year saw the first national rise in the number of working-age households without an employed adult since 2010, before rising food and energy prices led to soaring inflation this year.

The Institute for Public Policy Research said the rise in workless households is "seriously concerning", especially during the rising cost of living.

Office for National Statistics figures show 86,637 South Lanarkshire households containing one or more occupants aged between 16 and 64 had at least one person in employment in 2021.

It meant 81.6% of households were classed as either working – where all working-age adults are in employment – or mixed, with at least one working and one workless adult – down from 82.3% the year before.

Across the UK, the number of workless households rose for the first time since 2010 last year from 13.7% to 14.1%.

In South Lanarkshire, just 19,478 households (18.4%) had no working-age occupants in employment last year.

Rachel Statham, associate director for work and welfare state at the IPPR, said: "It’s seriously concerning to see a rise in workless households as our cost-of-living crisis deepens this winter, and it’s clear that urgent action is needed to keep people in the workforce as living costs soar."

Ms Statham also highlighted the high rate of sickness and ill health as a reason for the uptick in worklessness.

Across the UK, 34% of workless households said they did not work because of sickness or disability.