Family breakups in Australia

A new study compiled by the Australian government examines the number of jobless families in the country. The study shows how many children are living with parents who don't have work. This is especially concerning in Australia where there are a number of jobless without any welfare benefits.

Carol Nader, a writer for the Australian newspaper The Age gives us the numbers.

from The Age

Family breakdown is contributing to child poverty and 13% of children are living in households without a parent in employment, a Federal Government report says.

The proportion of children living in jobless households is "relatively high", according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies report.

It says there has been only a slow decline in the number of jobless households over the past decade, from 18% in 1983 to 13% in 2007, despite the strength of the economy over that period.

And with the current economic situation uncertain, there are fears the proportion of jobless families may start to grow.

In Australia, about half of all single parents are employed, compared to an OECD average of 70.6%. The report says this highlights the role that family breakdown plays in putting children at risk of poverty.