Lone parents at risk of economic vulnerability - study

Becoming a lone parent increases the risk of economic vulnerability - which is measured on low income, material deprivation and financial stress - according to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

A nine year study (between 2008 to 2017) found that lone parent families faced a higher risk of economic vulnerability in that period.

The research, which is part of the ESRI's Growing Up in Ireland study, found that lone parents who received maintenance payments from their ex-partners and those with access to informal social support from family or friends faced a lower risk of economic vulnerability.

However, it also found that 50% of lone parents received no maintenance from their former partner. 36% to 38% received a regular maintenance payment and 11% to 17% received a more irregular payment "when required".

Lone mothers were less likely to be employed than mothers in couples throughout the nine year period according to the report.

32% of lone mothers were employed early on in the study (when the child central to the study was nine months old), compared to 47% of coupled mothers who had nine month old babies at the time.

Employment rates rose over time with the child's age and as labour market conditions improved. When the child reached nine years of age, 57% of lone mothers were employed compared to 64% of coupled mothers.

Those who became lone parents between 2008 and 2017 were almost three times more likely to be economically vulnerable compared to those who remained in two-parent families.

The increased risk of economic vulnerability associated with becoming a lone parent was greater for previously married mothers than previously cohabiting mothers.

For the most part the research found that prior circumstances such as a partner’s employment, own employment, and the number of children did not significantly "buffer the impact" of
becoming a lone parent.

Economic vulnerability

The risk of economic vulnerability appeared lower for women who had a degree but there were too few cases in this category to reach statistical significance according to the ESRI.

It found that entering employment of 16 to 30 hours per week increased the odds of exiting economic vulnerability compared to those who remained out of work, and the chances were higher for those who entered a full-time job.

However, one to 15 hours per week did not increase the likelihood of the exiting economic vulnerability.

Following last week's budget, Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, One Family said Budget 2025 had not taken basic measures to support working lone parents.

The organisation said the Government opted for short-termist, once-off payments instead of structural interventions backed up by solid long-term strategies.

It said the Government did not support lone parents to move into or stay in employment by increasing the income disregard in line with national minimum wage increases.

CEO Karen Kiernan said this made it more difficult for parents to work, considering "what they earn now is worth 12.2 hours of minimum wage, compared to the equivalent 26 hours in the year 2000".