For many workers, the answer to financial pressure seems obvious: put in more hours and earn more pay. But fresh findings highlighted in Media News Ireland suggest that the reality is far more complicated, with the ESRI warning that longer working weeks are not a reliable fix for thousands of people already struggling while in employment.
Research presented at the ESRI’s Budget Perspectives 2027 conference shows that while extra hours can improve incomes for some households, they will not lift a large share of workers above the poverty threshold. The study also points to deeper structural issues in Ireland’s labour market and social supports, making this a key talking point across Media News, News Ireland, and wider policy debate.
Media News Ireland: ESRI says more hours are only part of the answer
The ESRI estimates that about 5 per cent of workers in Ireland are at risk of poverty, equivalent to roughly 114,000 people. Most of them, around 74,000, are employed part-time.
According to the research, increasing working hours could help around half of those part-time workers move above the poverty line. Even so, that still leaves a significant number of people in hardship despite working more.
As the findings make clear, low pay, family size and household dependency all matter just as much as time spent on the job. In short, work alone is not always enough protection against poverty.
That is why this story has quickly become part of the broader Media Digest around living costs, wage adequacy and welfare reform in Ireland.
Why full-time work still may not protect families from poverty
The ESRI’s central message is blunt: even if some workers increased their weekly hours to as much as 40, many would still remain below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold.
The poverty benchmark used in the study is based on disposable household income. Last year’s median stood at €61,666, meaning households living on less than about €37,000 were considered at risk of poverty.
That matters because poverty is measured at household level, not simply by one worker’s payslip. A person can be employed, work long hours and still struggle if:
- wages are too low
- there are several dependents in the household
- childcare or care duties limit availability for extra shifts
- full-time roles are not available
- health issues restrict working capacity
These barriers are practical, not theoretical. They help explain why “just work more” is not a serious stand-alone policy response.
Working Family Payment emerges as a major policy lever
One of the most important findings in this Media News Ireland story is that social support reform may be just as effective as longer hours.
The ESRI says stronger take-up of the Working Family Payment could substantially reduce in-work poverty. This payment is the main welfare support for low-income working families, yet only about half of eligible households currently claim it.
If every eligible household took up the support, the institute estimates that 29,000 workers could be lifted out of poverty risk.
That is a striking figure, and it reframes the discussion for policymakers, employers and advocacy groups alike. In the latest Agency News Ireland and economic commentary, this is likely to sharpen calls for:
- better awareness of existing income supports
- simpler application systems
- stronger wage growth at the lower end of the labour market
- more flexible work options for carers and parents
Pension divide adds another layer to Ireland’s inequality debate
A separate ESRI study presented at the same conference adds a longer-term warning for workers and employers. It found that while people with workplace pensions may plan to retire earlier, actual retirement age is broadly similar across groups, at about 61 on average.
The real gap appears in retirement income.
Workers with occupational pension coverage retired on a median weekly income of €460, compared with €230 for those relying only on the State pension. That is effectively a two-tier retirement outcome.
The report also flagged particular concern for women without workplace pensions, who retire earlier on average and often with weaker financial security.
For readers following Corporate News Ireland and labour market trends, this adds pressure on employers to think beyond pay packets alone. Pension access, retention strategy and workforce wellbeing are increasingly linked.
Key pension takeaways from the ESRI research
- Workplace pension membership is strongly associated with higher retirement income
- Workers without occupational cover face greater financial vulnerability later in life
- Women remain especially exposed to earlier retirement and lower income risk
- Ireland’s dependence on the State pension leaves many households financially stretched
What this means for workers, employers and policymakers
The wider lesson from this Media News Ireland update is that in-work poverty is not simply a question of effort. It is tied to wage levels, household structure, access to supports and long-term financial planning.
For employers, the findings reinforce the value of:
- fair pay progression
- predictable scheduling
- family-friendly policies
- pension participation supports
For government, the message is equally clear. Boosting labour supply matters, but so does improving the effectiveness of the safety net already in place.
And for workers, this is a reminder that income supports and pension planning can be as important as extra shifts when it comes to financial resilience.
Conclusion
The ESRI’s latest findings, now circulating widely in Media News Ireland, show that longer hours can help some households but are far from a cure-all for in-work poverty. Without stronger wages, better support take-up and wider pension coverage, many workers will remain financially exposed despite being in employment. The clearest takeaway is simple: solving poverty at work requires more than asking people to work longer.
Image Courtesy: The Irish Times
Credit/Courtesy for the Article: The Irish Times
