SILC Module on the Impact of Childhood Poverty Experiences on Adult Life 2023

Poverty and Deprivation

The results show that adults who experienced bad financial circumstances during their childhood are more likely to be at risk of poverty, be living in enforced deprivation, and be in consistent poverty in adulthood.

At 16%, respondents aged 25-59 were twice as likely to be at risk of poverty in 2023 if they experienced bad financial circumstances in childhood compared with just over 8% of those who experienced good financial circumstances.

Work Status

One of the most significant findings of this release was the influence of the working status of parents during childhood.  

Almost 50% of respondents aged 25-59 who had grown up in a household where no parent worked, were not working themselves in 2023.

In comparison, 15% of respondents who grew up in a household where both parents worked were not working in 2023.

Education

One interesting aspect of this release is that it indicates a significant association between the educational level of parents and of their children.  

Of respondents aged 25-59 whose parents had a third level education, eight in ten had a third level education as of 2023.

In comparison, over three in ten respondents whose parents had a lower secondary education or below had achieved a third level qualification.

Tenure Status

An interesting aspect of today's release is that people who grew up in households that were owner-occupied are more likely to live in owner-occupied households when compared to those who grew up in households that rented. 

Seven in ten respondents aged 25-59 who grew up in an owner-occupied household were themselves living in an owner-occupied household in 2023, compared with four in ten who grew up in households that rented.