Lorraine Williamson
Having a job in Spain no longer guarantees financial stability. A new report from Save the Children reveals that 17% of households with children live in poverty, even though they are employed.
The figures highlight a troubling trend: employment alone is not enough to keep many families afloat.
Single-parent and large families face highest risk
The situation is particularly severe for single-parent households, where the poverty rate jumps to 32%. Families with three or more children fare even worse—35.5% live below the poverty line. For single-earner families with several children, the outlook is bleak. Among these, 63% struggle to make ends meet.
Precarious contracts and low pay widen inequality
Temporary contracts and low wages contribute significantly to this problem. Although Spain has raised its minimum wage, it remains insufficient for many families. Around 12% of workers earn too little to escape poverty. Many rely on part-time or short-term jobs, which lack stability and adequate income.
Young adults and women hit hardest
Young people aged 16 to 29 face particular challenges. Only 12.5% earn enough to live above the poverty line. Women, meanwhile, make up the majority of part-time workers—74%—largely due to caregiving responsibilities. This gender imbalance deepens income inequality and limits opportunities for financial independence.
Calls for structural reform and family support
Save the Children is urging the Spanish government to take action. The organisation recommends long-term contracts, fair wages, and increased parental leave. Universal parenting allowances and accessible childcare could help reduce economic stress for families. Without significant policy changes, in-work poverty is likely to rise further.
Save the Children’s Role in Spain
Save the Children has been active in Spain for over two decades, with programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable children and supporting low-income families. In regions such as Madrid, Catalonia, and Andalucia, the organisation provides educational support, meals, and psychological care to children in need. It also conducts research and lobbies for policies that address child poverty and social exclusion. Its recent report on in-work poverty is part of a broader campaign to highlight how structural inequalities are affecting children’s lives, even when their parents are employed.
Spain´s child poverty crisis