Pay falling 'in real terms' for many workers: GMB union

Workers in sectors such as leisure and caring have seen their pay fall by more than 15% in real terms since the recession, according to a new study.

Research by the GMB union found that pay has not recovered for many professions since 2008.

Average earnings for all workers are 13.4% below pre-recession levels, said the union after an analysis of official data.

Ambulance staff have suffered a 19% fall in real time earnings, cleaners and sales assistants 18%, bar staff 15%, hospital porters 11%, refuse staff 10%, postal workers 9%, farm workers 8% and window cleaners 6%, said the report.

Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: "While we have seen a growth in the number of workers as the population has increased, average pay has simply not kept pace with inflation.

"Since 2007, the cumulative inflation rate has been 25.6%. During this period, pay in the UK has gone up by 12.2% which has left the pay of the average full time worker in the UK down by 13.4% in real terms.

"Some occupations have been worse hit than others and most have a long way to go to get back to the level where they were before the recession.

"This has had a deflationary impact on the economy and has also impacted on the tax take by the Chancellor to pay for essential public services."