Methodological datasheet: Jobless households

Identification

Description.

Jobless households

Description and source 1 operation code.

Population in Relation to Activity (PRA) 050403

Responsable entity.

EUSTAT

Availability.

PRA + 2 months

Objectives

Jobless households are households where no member is in employment, i.e. all members are either unemployed or inactive.

It is important to consider the structure of those households affected by joblessness, as it is the well-being of the whole household that is put at risk by the fact that no-one in the household is working. Beyond the dependency on social benefits, living in a jobless household extends the lack of contact to the labour market, and for children, it increases the risk of intergenerational transmission of poverty since no working adult is in a position to act as a role model. In addition, access to basic services in the fields of health, housing, education, justice and to other private services such as culture, sport and leisure can be seriously hampered.

Living in a jobless household can have many adverse consequences for children and young people. Unemployment has been linked to truancy and non-completion of schooling, family break up, illness and premature death. Future income, social position and relative economic success can suffer. Moreover, joblessness can generate tension and conflict in families, with resultant poor health, family violence and social exclusion, resulting from the loss of social and professional contacts in the workplace.

In the renewed Lisbon strategy it is mentioned that productivity growth and increased employment must go hand in hand. At the same time, Europe must bring the long term unemployed and people with relatively low skills back into work.

Sphere

Population:

Total population aged 0-´17 and population aged 18-59 years by gender.

Geographical Sphere:

The Basque Country and provinces

Time period:

Annual

Concepts and Definitions

The indicator is defined as the number of children aged 0-17 years and the number of persons aged 18-59 years who are living in eligible households where none of the members are working, expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 0-17, respectively aged 18-59, who are living in eligible households.

'Eligible households' means that households composed solely of students are excluded.

Codes and nomenclatures

Not applicable

Quality

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/sdi/files/Jobless%20households.pdf

Further Information

Jobless Households - Minors:

Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table

Jobless Households – Adults by gender:

Eurostat - Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table