A high share of Irish adults in very low work intensity households is often highlighted to explain exceptionally high market income inequality in Ireland.
Evidence from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions and the Labour Force Survey show Ireland is an outlier in a high-income European context (often just in a European context) in the probability of being in a very low work intensity household or being economically inactive if you are a woman with children or disabled. This evidence is supported by data on employment rates for individuals in the same groups. The share of adults in low work intensity households could be addressed by policymakers by developing the Irish welfare state to foster a more inclusive labour market (affordable childcare in particular). Addressing labour market participation and employment rates for just these two groups to bring them in line with European norms would bring the share of all Irish adults in very low work intensity households below the Eurozone average. This would in turn help to address excessive Irish market income inequality.