Workers in Plymouth earn £2,600 less a year than in 2008

Bournemouth workers are on average £2587 per year worse off in real terms than they were before the financial crash, according to new South West TUC analysis published today (Friday).

The analysis shows that real wages in the city are 11% lower, on average, than they were in 2008.

However, the South West TUC warns things could get worse, with the Bank of England predicting that real earnings will fall for the rest of 2017.

The South West TUC adds further that the rise in precarious work – such as zero-hours contracts – is helping drive the fall in living standards.

One in three (33%) jobs created in the South West since 2011 have been in insecure work. The TUC estimates that 281,223 people now work in insecure jobs in the South West region - this represents one in ten workers.

South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said:

“It’s nearly ten years since the financial crisis, and working people in Plymouth are still suffering with average workers almost £2600 a year worse off. It is by far one of the worst hit areas of the South West in terms of real wage drops.

On a practical level, that’s the full cost of your annual Council tax bill as well as other important household bills, such as water and your TV licence.

It’s clear that Plymouth badly needs a pay rise.

As voters go to the polls, politicians need to explain how they’ll create decent jobs with fair pay for all. There also needs to be more recognition of the damage the public sector pay cap is having on workers. Nurses and teachers should not have to use food banks to get by.”