MKCF - Vital Signs Digital brochure FINAL - Flipbook - Page 16
Vital Signs - Disadvantage and Poverty
Employment
In Milton Keynes, there is a higher rate of
people who are out of work but not looking
to get back into work (economically inactive)
because of ill health than the average
across England.
Pre-COVID-19, the rate was 23% of households
in Milton Keynes, by June 2023 the rate
had risen to 30.7%, compared with 25.5%
for England.
This is particularly prevalent in manual or
routine jobs, which research suggests is more
likely to have caused ill health. Milton Keynes
has 12.6% of the population working in these
roles compared to 10.5% for England.
There are higher rates of in-work
poverty in Milton Keynes compared
with England. 6.3% of Universal Credit
claimants are in work in Milton Keynes,
compared with 5.7% for England.
Milton Keynes Citizens Advice reports that
from the end of 2022 onwards, the most
common debt problem has been energy
and fuel debts.
A further indication of the growth in
number of those in poverty comes from
the Milton Keynes Foodbank report, which
states that between January to October
2023, it distributed the same amount as
for 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Milton Keynes Foodbank saw a 49%
increase in usage between 2022 and 2023.
Food Connect Hubbub
6.3%
of Universal Credit
claimants are in work in
Milton Keynes, compared
with 5.7% for England.
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