Workers in south Northamptonshire among best paid in East Midlands, according to survey

Data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) analysed by ManpowerGroup UK, has revealed that average earnings in the region fell by 0.2 per cent in the past year, compare to the 0.6 per cent increase recorded across the UK as a whole.

There is now a £15,000 pay gap between those working in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire, the most well paid part of the region where people earn an average of £41,000, and residents of Boston who receive an average of £24,500 a year.

South Northamptonshire was second in the pay league with an average earning total of £40,400, closely followed by Daventry in fourth place, with a average salary level of £35,100,

East Northamptonshire was in ninth with a figure of £32,900, followed by Kettering £31,000, Northampton £30,000 and Wellingborough £29,000.

Corby was the lowest Northamptonshire local authority in the table with an average annual wage of £25,600.

The figures were calculated by analysis undertaken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) of a one per cent sample of employee jobs taken from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) PAYE records,

Greg Hollis, Operations Manager at Manpower, said pay was starting to increase in region.

He said: “Although pay in the East Midlands has trailed the rest of the UK, we are starting to see an increase in salaries as employers compete for the best talent.

ManpowerGroup’s analysis has also revealed a marked pay gap between the region’s men and women, with men in full-time work earning an average £15.10 an hour, compared to £12.99 per hour for women in full-time work.

However, this gap is shrinking and, although both genders saw their pay fall over the past year, men’s average hourly pay fell faster than women’s pay (-1.8% vs. -0.1%).

Mr Hollis said: “There has traditionally been a difference in pay between men and women in the East Midlands, linked to the prevalence of male-dominated roles and industries in the region.

“However, this gap is shrinking and the East Midlands is leading the way in reducing the gender imbalance in pay. As more and more women seek work in the booming manufacturing sector, we hope that this will herald a further narrowing of the gender pay gap.”