Work and Barriers to Work among Welfare Recipients in 2002

Data from the 2002 National Survey of America's Families show that new welfare recipients increased from 26 percent of the welfare caseload in 1999 to 34 percent in 2002. 51 percent of welfare recipients with no barriers to employment were working compared with 14 percent of recipients with two or more barriers. About half of long-term stayers reported multiple barriers to employment.