With high unemployment and global uncertainty, new report reveals potential debt and self-esteem crisis to come
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provides FCA authorised debt advice and helps thousands of people back into work and volunteering opportunities through its free services delivered in communities across the UK.
CAP’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Kiri Adams, responds to the Spring Statement:
“At Christians Against Poverty, we see the real people behind the unemployment figures, which are forecast to rise to a peak of 5⅓% in 2026. Behind that statistic are talented individuals who want to work but are being locked out of opportunity — and left facing mounting financial pressure as a result.
“The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, forecasts a brighter future but families are in a storm right now and it’s a very uncertain time in the world.
Families need more person-centred, face-to-face support, like the kind our church partners offer, to help people thrive and achieve their potential.
“Our latest Barriers to Work report reveals that around nine million UK adults have been unsuccessful in ten or more job applications in the past year. When you are told ten, twenty, or fifty times that you are ‘not enough,’ your self-worth quickly erodes.
“In fact, 49% of people we surveyed told us that being out of work is having a direct, negative impact on their mental health.
Work should be a bridge out of poverty, yet for millions, the job market has become a fortress with the drawbridge raised.
“Add in the latest news on expected energy price rises and the picture continues to look highly concerning for families on low incomes in the UK.
“CAP’s latest research highlighted that in January, around 14.2 million UK adults reported having debt (excluding student loans or mortgage) that they are struggling to repay, even before this latest looming increase in energy prices.
“We need a strategy that doesn’t just push people into ‘any job,’ but supports them into ‘good work’ that offers meaning, stability, and a liveable income.”
