Unemployment and Poverty

Abstract

Poverty is higher among the unemployed. In 2010, 30 percent of the long-term unemployed were poor, and 66 percent of single parents unemployed more than 26 weeks were poor.

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Introduction

According to new Census data, about one in five nonelderly families experienced unemployment in 2010. Poverty increased with the number of weeks of unemployment. The poverty rate of the long-term unemployed was more than twice the rate of those with no unemployment in 2010.

Poverty was highest among single parents and more complicated households unemployed for more than 26 weeks. Nearly two out of three single parents with long-term unemployment were poor in 2010.

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