Care costs keep parents on benefits

Published on 21/01/2013 00:00

One in four unemployed parents are put off looking for work because of childcare costs, according to a new study.

Jobless parents in cities such as Glasgow are most likely to stay on the dole because of the high cost of finding someone to look after their child, research found.

A survey of 1,000 parents by childcare search site Findababysitter.com also showed that more than half believe the government is not doing enough to help them arrange childcare.

About two out of five of 
those questioned were unemployed, with younger jobless parents more likely to blame childcare costs as a barrier to work.

Other childcare concerns include safety, location, availability, and feelings of guilt about leaving children with someone else.