Childcare cuts spark rise of the stay-at-home mum

New research calls into question claims by the government to make work pay for families in Britain "squeezed middle"

women are priced out of the labor market because of government cuts deep into public funding for child care, according to a study released Sunday.

The study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a center of study challenges claims made by ministers that their flagship social reform "make work pay" and encourage people to work and benefits. However, the numbers IPPR analysis suggests that the rising cost of childcare is to convince many mothers stay home to care for their own children. research focuses on low to middle income families in the "squeezed middle", who are already suffering from falling real wages as payment is frozen or increased at a rate below inflation.

Based on official data on employment, the IPPR found that while unemployment was down 20,000 last year to 2.45 million, the number of unemployed women increased of 42,000.

The study indicates that increasing the number of unemployed women may be partly explained by the fact that losses of public sector jobs have disproportionately affected women. During the past year, private sector employment increased by 520,000, but in the public sector is 143,000. The official classification of "public administration, health and education" is the only sector where more women than men are employed.

Dalia Ben-Galim

, associate director of IPPR, said: "During the recession, unemployment among men has increased much more than women, but our analysis of the most recent figures show that this experiment being reversed po largely because of government cuts in public spending. "

• Another key factor in the increase in female unemployment, the IPPR, said it was cutting 10% of the costs of child care for low-income families can claim through tax credit system. Until April, the deduction referred to work 80% of childcare expenses up to £ 175 per week for one child and ? 300 per week for two or more people. But in April, was 70% as ministers tried to reduce the welfare bill.
• "The cuts in child care tax credits means that for some women, work and do not pay and it is better to stay home," added Ben-Galim. " The pressure ... which means it can be cheaper for parents - especially mothers who are often paid less -. Leaving the labor market This not only has implications for the prospects of professional women in the long term, but may also impact on children. "

Earlier this year another study center, the resolution of the Foundation, estimates that nearly 500,000 families with low and middle income countries lose an average £ 436 per annum in aid for care expenses of children. In London, where costs are higher, about 50,000 families lose an average of 600 pounds. In some cases, the loss could be as much as £ 1,300 years.

A DWP spokesman disputed the analysis of the IPPR and stated that changes in government welfare have been designed to provide the best possible assistance to those who want to engage in working.

"women seeking employment should contact their local Jobcentre, where they give advice and be able to take advantage of the 10,000 jobs that we take every working day. In June, we launched the work program that provides long-term unemployed to the extent of support to return to work. The program differs from previous systems as it assesses people discover the obstacles that prevent them from finding work and then work with them to overcome these problems. "

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