12 November 2015
The Jersey Household Income Distribution report presents the results of a large survey of households carried out by the Statistics Unit between April 2014 and May 2015.
The report provides robust information on average household incomes and income inequality in Jersey. It also includes comparisons with the 2009/10 survey and with the UK.
Key themes
- since 2009/10, mean and median household incomes have increased by less than inflation (as measured by the Retail Prices Index)
- median equivalised household income after housing costs decreased (in nominal terms) for those living in non-qualified and social rental accommodation since 2009/10.
- the decrease in household incomes for certain groups was driven by:
- a reduction in employment income, particularly for those aged under 40 years and those in non-qualified accommodation
- an increase in housing costs for those in rental accommodation (particularly qualified and social renters)
- the average household income (after housing costs) of those in the lowest quintile decreased by a sixth (17%) in nominal terms over the last five years.
- over half (56%) of one-parent families were in relative low income after housing costs
- once housing costs were taken into account:
- the proportion of qualified rent households in relative low income (RLI) trebled, from one in ten
(10%) to three in ten (31%) - the proportion of social rental households in RLI increased from a quarter (27%) to two-thirds (66%)
- the proportion of non-qualified rental households in RLI also increased, from 22% to 39%
- the benefits and tax system improve income inequality; housing costs almost remove this improvement
- income inequality has increased since 2009/10, that is the distribution of household income has become more unequal, particularly after housing costs are included
- income inequality was worse in Jersey in 2014/15 than in the UK
Download Jersey Household Income Distribution 2014/15 report (size 1mb)
gov.je