Workers in South West still £25 a week worse off than 10 years ago, says TUC
The ONS figures show that for the year to April 2018, real wages in the South West were 4.7% below their 2008 level.
The new figures also show:
- The three poorest areas are still based in the South West, with Weymouth & Portland, Torbay and West Devon on average, earning the lowest weekly wages across the UK.
TUC South West Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said:
“Pay packets in the South West are still worth less than a decade ago. And the figures tell us yet again that the South West is home to some of the most deprived, low wage economy in the UK.”
“If the age of austerity is really over the government must get wages rising faster.
“Next week’s Budget must give all public servants the pay rise they have earned.
We need to see a proper living wage - £10 per hour – as soon as possible.
And the government must give unions the right to organise in more workplaces so we can help working people get the rights they deserve.”
Notes to editors:
- UK regional and national changes to average weekly earnings from 2008 to 2018
|
Change from 2008 to 2018 in £ per week |
Change from 2008 to 2018 in % |
|
|
North East |
-17 |
-3.4 |
|
North West |
-30 |
-5.7 |
|
Yorks & Humber |
-29 |
-5.6 |
|
East Midlands |
-38 |
-7.4 |
|
West Midlands |
-22 |
-4.1 |
|
East of England |
-26 |
-4.7 |
|
London |
-50 |
-7.0 |
|
South East |
-34 |
-5.8 |
|
South West |
-25 |
-4.7 |
|
Wales |
-14 |
-2.8 |
|
Scotland |
-12 |
-2.3 |
|
Northern Ireland |
+1 |
+0.2 |
|
UK |
-27 |
-4.7 |
- The calculations are based on median weekly earnings for full-time employees, from table 23 in the ASHE 2008 and 2018 datasets. Price effects removed using the CPI measure of annual inflation for April. CPI was the government’s preferred measure of inflation until 2017. The treatment of housing costs in CPIH changed significantly in 2014, so it can-not be used when looking at earlier years.
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