Will you address the specific ways poverty and the cost of living crisis hits women and children in Wales? Do you recognise the additional impact on ethnic minority women and rural women?
Poverty among women and children in Wales is well-documented and is mainly linked to low incomes, insecure work and caring responsibilities, rather than individual choices.
Women are more likely to be in low-paid or part-time jobs and are often balancing work with unpaid caring, especially childcare. Even when women are in work, low wages and unstable hours mean many families still struggle to make ends meet.
Caring responsibilities play a big role. Women continue to do most unpaid care, which limits how much they can work or progress in their jobs.
Access to affordable childcare is a major issue, particularly for low-income families and those living in rural areas where services are harder to find. Lone parents, most of whom are women, face some of the highest poverty rates because they are often relying on a single income.
Children are more likely to live in poverty than any other age group in Wales. Growing up in poverty affects children’s health, education and future opportunities, and the evidence shows that these impacts can last into adulthood.
Some women and families face extra pressures. Ethnic minority women are more likely to experience poverty due to a combination of low pay, discrimination, language barriers and difficulties accessing benefits and services. For some families, immigration rules also limit the support they can receive, increasing financial insecurity.
Women and families in rural areas face different but equally serious challenges. Jobs, childcare, transport and support services are often limited, and everyday costs such as travel and heating can be higher. These factors make it harder for women to work and increase the risk of poverty and isolation.
Overall, the evidence shows that poverty among women and children in Wales is driven by inequalities that affect work, care and access to services.
These issues are made worse for ethnic minority women and for those living in rural areas, meaning that tackling poverty effectively requires approaches that recognise gender, ethnicity and where people live.
Key references
Welsh Government (2024), Child Poverty Strategy for Wales
Wales Centre for Public Policy (2022), Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Poverty and Ethnicity in Wales
Welsh Government (2024), Well-being of Wales: A More Equal Wales