STUC Comment on Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2013

December 12th 2013

STUC Comment on Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2013

December 12th 2013

Commenting on publication of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2013, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“While today’s figures are not as bad as some anticipated, it must be stressed that they do confirm yet another real terms fall in median earnings in Scotland.

“Median full-time earnings have now fallen by 6.2% in Scotland since 2010. In other words, the median earner in Scotland is now £1753 worse off than if pay had kept pace with inflation over this period.

“There are other real causes for concern in the data published today not least the rise in the gender pay gap at UK level. The figures also confirm that the bottom two income deciles have seen the biggest real terms falls in earnings since 2010 thereby exacerbating already significant income inequality in Scotland.

“The ongoing squeeze on real wages is without precedent in modern times and most workers are simply not benefitting from the supposedly strengthening recovery”.

ENDS

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