29.08.12
Workless households fall to 3.7 million
The number of workless households in the UK has fallen by 153,000 to 3.7 million in April to June 2012, new data shows.
The ONS found the decrease in families with at least one member aged 16-64 where no-one was working represented 17.9% of all households. The fall of 153,000 on a year earlier represents the second consecutive fall in workless households.
The main reason given for worklessness in these households was sickness, both temporary and long-term. This accounted for around three in every ten workless people.
The second most common reason given was unemployment, with one in five citing this as the cause of their worklessness. Being retired or a student were also given as common reasons.
If fully retired and student households were removed from the data, the number of workless households in the UK is 2.92 million.
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