Poverty growing in rural areas

"The State of the Countryside" is the Commission for Rural Communities' annual report on rural life. Published on 16 July, the 2008 report shows that:

• Disadvantage and poverty are generally less prevalent than in urban areas, but the actual volume is not picked up in most analysis, because it is dispersed across rural settlements. There is increasing inequality within rural areas.
• Poverty appears to be increasing in rural areas, and more than in urban areas. Over the last two years for which data are available the percentage of population under the poverty line rose 3% in rural areas compared to 1% in urban areas.
• Wages for jobs in rural areas tend to be lower. Work is therefore not proving to be a route out of poverty for many rural employees and residents.

CAP Coordinator Niall Cooper commented, "This is more evidence that the gap between rich and poor is growing to unacceptable levels, across all sectors of UK society. It's time for real action to address the growing problem of poverty in all our communities, including the often hidden problem of rural poverty."

The report can be downloaded at the CRC website.