Making decisions about work in one-earner couple households

This report provides findings from a qualitative study to understand the attitudes and behaviours of non-working partnered parents living in low-income households where neither partner is in receipt of out-of-work benefits from DWP, and to explore the factors that might influence decisions about work within their household. The project had three main objectives:

• to explore the labour market choices, constraints and aspirations of non-working partnered parents in low-income households, particularly in terms of any longer-term trade-offs between income through paid work and child caring responsibilities;
• to explore the type of support non-working partnered parents might require in order to make paid employment a realistic option, and
• to identify how best to help this group move into work with information, advice and support.

The research involved conducting 50 in-depth interviews with non-working partnered parents living in low-income households in three areas of the country. Fieldwork was carried out in May and June 2008.

Making decisions about work in one-earner couple households [ Full report (PDF, 460kB) | Research summary (PDF, 218kB) ]