20th June 2018
One in two young workers are struggling to cover their housing costs and are going without meals and other essentials to pay their rent according to a new survey from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
The national opinion poll of 1,500 trade union members under the age of 34 on their housing costs was conducted online between 01 and 14 June.
The survey was carried out by Congress ahead of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) discussions between Government, union and employer representatives on housing.
Key Findings
- Over half (54 per cent) of all young workers are struggling to cover their housing costs. One in every two have had to borrow or sacrifice another basic need, such as food, heating and transportation, in order to pay their rent or mortgage in the past year
- Two in five (40 per cent) of all young workers are spending in excess of the 30 per cent rent-to-income ratio of housing affordability.
- The vast majority (74 per cent) of young workers have little or no confidence in being able to buy a home in the future should they wish to.