Almost a quarter of South Tyne households have no worker

Last year saw the first national rise in the number of households without an employed adult for over a decade – before rising food and energy prices led to soaring inflation.

Office for National Statistics figures show 37,508 households in the borough had one or more working occupants last year – with 77.5% classed as either working – where all working-age adults are in employment – or mixed, with at least one working and one workless adult.

That is up from 76.8% the year before.

In South Tyneside, 10,879 households (22.5%) had no working-age occupants in employment last year

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

Rachel Statham, associate director for work and welfare state at the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: "It’s seriously concerning to see a rise in workless households as our cost-of-living crisis deepens this winter."

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

Ms Statham added: "We need to see urgent action from the Government to drive down waiting lists, improve access to employability services for people with health problems, and strengthen social security for those who are unable to work due to ill health or disability, or there will be significant social and economic costs over the long term.”

The Department for Work and Pensions said it has supported 1.3 million people with disabilities into work in the last five years.