Introduction

This chapter explores the complex relationship between child poverty and families being in and out of work, the role of employment in lifting families out of poverty and how low-quality, low-security employment poses a threat to children and families rather than a route out of poverty. With the dominant status and values attached to employment, and the increase across affluent societies of labour market activation, this chapter highlights the challenges faced by children and families situated at the insecure, fragile end of the labour market. It challenges media and political rhetoric and assumptions about ‘skivers’ and ‘strivers’, asking what the impact of these public, corrosive attitudes and perceptions might be for children in their everyday lives. By examining the relationship between employment policies, labour market activation and welfare conditionality it highlights the impact of state policies, regulations and expectations on the everyday lives of children through the governance of their parents.

The chapter shows how children and families who find themselves pressurised into low-income insecure employment can experience considerable stress, financial insecurity and instability. It uses evidence from qualitative longitudinal studies to reveal the importance of time and timing in relation to transitions to work and sustainability within work. It brings children's voices and experiences into the centre of an analysis of employment in relation to child poverty. There are many actions by governments that interplay with employment and unemployment: in particular, this chapter looks at in-work benefits, labour market activation and welfare conditionality.

The dominant status and values attached to employment

Employment has long been presented as the route out of poverty. Although employment can produce a route out of poverty for some families, and indeed it remains the best hope of doing so, for many families it remains a hope, as employment without adequate reward and security can produce its own problems and uncertainties for families. The dominant political discourse suggests that, if only those currently not working would find a job then their worries, and their poverty, would be over.