Occupation categories for those in in-work poverty (2022/23)
Last updated: May 2024
Next estimated update: May 2025
What does this indicator show?
This indicator looks at the types of job in which Londoners experiencing in-work poverty are most likely to work. It shows the proportion of Londoners in in-work poverty that are employed in each of the ONS’ Standard Occupational Classifications.
We can also look at the proportion each category makes up of working Londoners not in poverty. This helps us to see which occupation types are most likely to see people experiencing in-work poverty.
What does it tell us?
Of everybody experiencing working poverty, more worked in elementary occupations than any other job category, with 18% of people in in-work poverty in London categorised in this way. By contrast, only 4% of working Londoners who are not in poverty are in elementary occupations. Elementary occupations consist of simple and routine tasks which mainly require the use of hand-held tools and often some physical effort. This group made up a lower proportion (16%) in the rest of England.
The next largest occupation category for Londoners experiencing in-work poverty is associate professional & technical occupations where we find 17% of those in poverty, compared to 10% in the rest of England. This group consists of technical science, public services, and health and social care associate professionals.
The third largest occupation category for Londoners experiencing in-work poverty is professional occupations. 15% of Londoners in in-work poverty work in this category. By contrast, those working in this type of occupation make up 36% of all working Londoners not in poverty.
Want to know more?
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Please note Social Occupation Classification 2020 (SOC 2020) was introduced to the Family Resources Survey for the 2021/22 wave. Compared to SOC 2010 at the major grouping level there are minor decreases in employees classified in groups 1 and 3 and increases in group 2 for males and females. See here for more details. In our analysis we have combined survey waves and therefore also combined SOC 2010 and SOC 2020.