According to an OECD report, faced with labour shortages and pressures on pension funding due to ageing populations, one in three OECD countries has cut unemployment benefits in the last six years with a view to encouraging unemployed people to find jobs.

The report notes that childcare costs typically consume more than a third of family's incomes in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, in one third of OECD countries-Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, the Slovak Republic, Switzerland and United Kingdom – lone parents may see no financial gain from low-wage employment.

Further information is available at http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3343,en_2649_37427_39776222_1_1_1_
37427,00.html.