Nearly 1 in 5 working adults skipping meals

Many working adults are regularly skipping meals to keep costs down, the TUC has warned.

According to a poll by YouGov, 17% of working adults in the UK have skipped a meal in the last three months.

This includes 8% who’ve skipped a meal on most days, and 2% who’ve gone without every day.

Worryingly, this isn’t because they’re too busy at work.

Instead, figures showed that over the last year, one in four people have considerably cut their spending on food.

Meanwhile, a similar number said they couldn’t afford or were struggling to afford their monthly expenses.

Working adults making other cutbacks

Food isn’t the only area where working adults are trying to cut spending.

Almost a quarter of those polled said that in the last three months, they’ve chosen not to turn on the heating on most days.

At the same time, one in five have regularly reduced their use of hot water for baths and showers so they could save money.

TUC blames limited wage growth

Responding to the data, the TUC said it shows that more needs to be done to increase living standards and get more money into people’s pockets.

“Every worker deserves to earn a decent living,” said general secretary Paul Nowak.

“But many working households are struggling to make ends meet.”

According to TUC data, real wages went up by 0.3% between 2011 and 2023. This compares with 1.5% between 1997 and 2010.

TUC figures also show that the number of people in in-work poverty and insecure jobs has also risen significantly in the last 14 years.

Government aims to make work pay

The government is seeking to tackle issues such as low wages and job insecurity through the Employment Rights Bill.

Key measures in the proposed law include:

• ending zero-hours contracts
• ending fire and rehire practices
• day-one safeguards against unfair dismissal
• strengthening statutory sick pay rules
• making flexible working the default where practical

The government is also increasing the National Living Wage to £12.21 in April 2025.

How to check your wages

You can use the minimum wage calculator to find out if you're being paid the correct national minimum wage or national living wage. 

And if you think you’ve been underpaid, we have a handy guide outlining what you can do.