Welwyn Hatfield's 2021 Census figures have revealed that more than 200 children are working as unpaid carers.

The Office of National Statistics released the data, highlighting unpaid care by age, sex and deprivation in England.

240 children in Welwyn Hatfield are working 19 hours or less as an unpaid worker between the ages of five and 17, while 355 young adults aged of 18 and 24 (2.4 per cent) work 19 hours or less.

Between the ages of 75 and 79 (3.4 per cent), 120 workers work 19 hours or less, while 55 older people between 85 and 89 (3.0 per cent) work 19 hours or less in Welwyn Hatfield.

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The number of unpaid carers working more than 20 hours has seen a significant increase in the past few years.

Of people working 50 hours or more, 20 males (0.2 per cent) and 15 females (0.2 per cent) between the ages of five and 17 were unpaid workers, while45 men (6 per cent) and 40 women (3.6 per cent) between the ages of 85 and 89 were a higher proportion of unpaid workers at a retirees age.

Compared to the 2021 figures, in 2011, there were 275 unpaid workers between the ages of five and 17 (1.7 per cent) that worked 19 hours or less, and between the ages of 75 and 79 (7.3 per cent), there were 260 workers. 

In 2011, there were only 10 males (0.1 per cent) and 10 females (0.1 per cent) that worked 50 hours or more. 

In contrast, between the ages of 85 and 89, 50 males (8.3 per cent) and 35 females (3.3 per cent) worked 50 hours or more 12 years ago in 2011. 

                                                                                                         

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The census was completed by over 24 million households throughout England and Wales on Sunday, March 21, 2021. 

It takes place across the UK every 10 years and offers the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in the country. 

All percentages for unpaid care have been age-standardised to account for differences in population size and age structure.