One in three jobs in Haringey are low-paid – the highest proportion across the UK
One in three jobs in Haringey are low-paid – the highest proportion across the UK
New analysis by the Living Wage Foundation has revealed Haringey to be the worst Local Authority for the proportion of low-paid jobs in the UK, with one in three paying below the real Living Wage in April 2023. In total, that’s 32.7 per cent of jobs that are low paid.
The analysis, taken from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), also found the top five Local Authorities with the highest proportions of below Living Wage pay are in London. Following Haringey is Brent (29.5 per cent), Waltham Forest (28.8 per cent), Bexley (28.5 per cent) and Redbridge (28.2 per cent).
These findings mean that overall, 13.3 per cent of jobs in London pay less than the real Living Wage- impacting 574,000 jobs in total.
Local Authorities in Outer London account for 12 of the top 25 areas with the highest proportion of low paid jobs. Therefore, despite London having higher living costs, many workers in these areas are not receiving the higher-than-average wages seen in inner-London.
With the UK economy officially entering a recession, these findings paint a stark picture for the many workers who are already being paid below a real Living Wage.
The Making London a Living Wage City project, led by Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation, is working to lift those in the Capital out of in-work poverty, putting £635m back into the pockets of low paid workers over four years.
The last two years have shown a record number of businesses accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation, with currently 3,500 London based employers committing to paying their workers a wage in line with the cost of Living as set by the Living Wage Foundation, currently £12 in the UK and £13.15 in London.
All of us who live in London will know first-hand how the cost of living has risen in recent times, but those who also live with low pay are bearing the personal cost far more than others. It is a matter of shame that London, one of the world's greatest cities, has the top five local authorities in the country with the highest proportion of low paid jobs: nearly a third of people in these areas are living on the edge of poverty. It's time to change this, and employers can act decisively by leading the way in becoming accredited as Living Wage employers, as we work together towards making London a Living Wage City and banish the scourge of low pay to the pages of history
The Revd Dr Simon Woodman, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church and Citizens UK leader
With the cost-of-living crisis, too many low-paid workers are worrying about whether they can afford to turn the heating on during winter or if they’ll be able to afford groceries. This shouldn’t happen in one of the richest cities in the world
Gina Rodriguez, Citizens UK leader
Our vision is simple - we would like everyone in the Capital to get the real Living Wage. We've received £4.8 million in campaign funding and are working with the Mayor of London to make it happen.
However, we need workers, businesses and civil society groups to join us in the fight for fair pay!