Third of Oldham jobs pay poverty wages

OLDHAM has one of the highest percentages of jobs in the North-West paying less than the living wage, according to new estimates.

Almost a third of local jobs pay poverty rates, according to the GMB. The living wage is a recommended rate of pay that takes into account the true cost of living.

In November 2014 the national living wage increased to £7.85 an hour. The areas in the North-West with the largest proportion of jobs paying less than the living wage are West Lancashire (38.3 per cent), Blackpool (33.9 per cent), Rossendale (33.7 per cent), Allerdale (33.2 per cent) and Oldham (32.9 per cent). The North-West average is 23.6 per cent.

Paul McCarthy, GMB regional secretary for the North-West said: “Living wage matters because it takes into account the income people need for a minimum standard of living.”