Poverty in Scotland 2026
With targets missed and poverty too high, radical change is needed. Local government needs to play a bigger role in poverty reduction, both in their delivery and in a healthier relationship with the Scottish Government.
Before joining JRF Jack spent five years at the Poverty Alliance as their Living Wage Scotland Manager, working with employers from all sectors and industries to help embed the real Living Wage in wage structures. Prior to entering the third sector in 2015, Jack was the Operations Manager of H&M in Scotland and before that worked at UK Anti-Doping. Jack's research interests include in-work poverty, employer practice change and procurement.
Email: jack.evans@jrf.org.uk
X: @jackdmevans
With targets missed and poverty too high, radical change is needed. Local government needs to play a bigger role in poverty reduction, both in their delivery and in a healthier relationship with the Scottish Government.
The new Scottish Government has said that eradicating child poverty will be its defining mission. This briefing is about what honouring that commitment requires when it comes to the labour market.
All parties have published their manifestos for the 7 May Holyrood elections, but they fall well short of the action needed to meet child poverty targets, leaving the next Scottish Government to match rhetoric with action.
Economic insecurity is shaping how people in Scotland vote, think about politics, and if they believe change is possible at all — particularity those facing the most pressure.
Poverty is still too high, people are feeling overlooked and ignored by politicians - the next Scottish Parliament is vital for a better future for children in Scotland.
A toolkit to help Scottish political parties shape their thinking and action to meet the 2030/31 child poverty reduction targets ahead of the 2026 Scottish Election.
This year our report asks how effective social security is at reducing poverty and advancing equality in Scotland.
Expansion of funded early years childcare must focus on children aged 1 and 2, and be designed to reduce poverty as well as costs.
This year’s State of the Nation report looks in detail at whether work is working for people in Scotland.