Cost of living crisis: nearly nine in 10 Lewes households in work

As the cost of living crisis bites for many across the UK, new figures show nearly nine in 10 households in Lewes have at least one working-age adult in employment.

Last year saw the first national rise in the number of working-age households without an employed adult since 2010, before rising food and energy prices led to soaring inflation this year.

The Institute for Public Policy Research said the rise in workless households is "seriously concerning", especially during the rising cost of living.

Office for National Statistics figures show 28,128 Lewes households containing one or more occupants aged between 16 and 64 had at least one person in employment in 2021.

It meant 87.1% of households were classed as either working – where all working-age adults are in employment – or mixed, with at least one working and one workless adult – down from 87.9% the year before.

Across the UK, the number of workless households rose for the first time since 2010 last year from 13.7% to 14.1%.