Increasing employment rate of single parents

A reader sent through the above graph which was part of a brief article in the Economist (Britain).

The Economist commentary,

The government will surely be pleased with new figures showing that a growing proportion of single mothers are in work. The percentage of children living in workless families is at its lowest since 1996, when records began. The reduction in income support for single working parents since 2008 may have contributed to the shift. But the overall rise conceals the fact that, compared with women who are part of a couple, single mums are almost twice as likely to be in low-skilled—and low-paid—jobs. And for some, especially lone parents, the price of child care can still be a barrier to entering the workforce. All political parties have promised to make it more affordable. But women are used to being left holding the baby.

 The NZ rate and trend is similar. The main driver is welfare reform, including the In Work Tax Credit.




 Data extracted from Household Composition by Household Labour Force Status (Qrtly-Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec)One parent with dependent child(ren) only All Employed