Govt should help single parents 'find long-term work'

The government needs to help single parents make the most of their skills and find long-term employment, it has been suggested.

From this October, single parents with a child aged seven or over will be expected to find work.

In a year's time the same will be required of lone parents with a child aged five years or over.

According to Gingerbread, a charity for lone parents, there is a limited number of suitable jobs available so, despite the coalition's hopes, the government's aims may not be viable.

Laura Dewar, policy and parliamentary officer at the Single Parent Action Network, said the "current outlook is fairly gloomy and the government does need to be proactive if it really wants to get those people into work".

"We don't just think it should be a numbers game of getting those people into employment, but actually [getting them] jobs that make the best use of those people's skills," she added.

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