A third of jobs pay less than the living wage in parts of the East Midlands

~~date: 20 February 2015
embargo: 00.01hrs Monday 23 February 2015

In some parts of the East Midlands a third of jobs (33.7 per cent) are paying less than the living wage, the TUC reveals today (Monday) at the start of the second week of the TUC’s Fair Pay Fortnight.

TUC analysis of official figures from the House of Commons Library shows that nationally one in five jobs pays under the living wage – currently set at £9.15 in London and £7.85 across the rest of Britain. Across the country, more than five million people get paid less than the living wage.

In the East Midlands, Bolsover tops the list of living wage blackspots with 33.7 per cent of the jobs based there paying less than the living wage. This is followed by Mansfield (33.4 per cent), High Peak (32.8 per cent), Sleaford and North Hykeham (32.4 per cent) and Boston and Skegness (32.1 per cent).

For working women the picture is even bleaker. In High Peak getting on for half (45.3 per cent) of jobs pay less than the living wage, followed by Mid Derbyshire (44.6 per cent), Sleaford and North Hykeham (44 per cent), Bolsover (42.5 per cent) and Broxtowe (42.5 per cent).

In some parts of the East Midlands there are higher paying areas where workers fare better. In both Nottingham East and Derby South just 16.3 per cent of jobs pay less than the living wage, followed by South Leicestershire (17.8 per cent) and Nottingham North (18.4 per cent).

Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said: “Extending the living wage is a vital step towards tackling the growing problem of in-work poverty in parts of the East Midlands – and Britain as a whole.

“Working families have experienced the biggest squeeze on their living standards since Victorian times, and these living wage figures show that women are disproportionately affected. Pay has been squeezed at all levels below the boardroom, and the government’s mantra about ‘making work pay’ is completely out of touch with reality.

“The number of living wage employers is growing rapidly and unions are playing their part in encouraging more employers to sign up and pay it. But we need to see a far wider commitment to pay the living wage from government, employers and modern wages councils – to drive up productivity and set higher minimum rates in industries where employers can afford to pay their staff more.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Top five East Midlands living wage blackspots (men and women)

 Parliamentary constituency Percentage of employees paid less than the living wage
1 Bolsover 33.7%
2 Mansfield 33.4%
3 High Peak  32.8%
4 Sleaford and north Hykeham 32.4%
5 Boston and Skegness 32.1%

Top five East Midlands living wage brightspots (men and women)
 Parliamentary constituency Percentage of employees paid less than the living wage
1 Nottingham East 16.3%
2 Derby South 16.3%
3 South Leicestershire 17.8%
4 Nottingham North 18.4%
5 Derby North 19.9%

Top five East Midlands living wage blackspots (women)
 Parliamentary constituency Percentage of women paid less than the living wage
1 High Peak 45.3%
2 Mid Derbyshire 44.6%
3 Sleaford and North Hykeham 44.0%
4 Bolsover 42.5%
5 Broxtowe 42.5%

Top five East Midlands living wage brightspots (women)
 Parliamentary constituency Percentage of women paid less than the living wage
1 Nottingham East 17.0%
2 Nottingham South 23.0%
3 Loughborough 23.6%
4 Leicester West 24.2%
5 South Northamptonshire 25.7%

House of Commons Library figures, based on data from the Office for National Statistics
- The full analysis of who is paid under the living wage by constituency and local authority is available through the Office for National Statistics/House of Commons: Percentage of employee jobs with hourly pay excluding overtime below the living wage by region and parliamentary constituency (place of work), UK, April 2013 and 2014
- The TUC is organising Fair Pay Fortnight 2015 between Monday 16 February and Sunday 1 March. The Fortnight is part of the TUC’s Britain Needs a Pay Rise campaign and will feature a series of events across England and Wales to raise awareness about low pay, pay inequality and the need for higher pay settlements in the public and private sector. For more information please visit www.fairpayfortnight.org
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Rob Johnston T: 0121 236 4454  M: 07879 497291  E: rjohnston@tuc.org.uk
Lee Barron  T: 0121 236 4454  M: 07919 102472 E: lbarron@tuc.org.uk