PURBECK workers are paid among the lowest annual salaries in the south west, according to analysis by workforce firm Manpower.

A pay league study by the company also highlights an east-west divide in the south west, with the region’s pay rising at only half the rate of the national average, and that women’s average pay is lower and rising more slowly than men.

Reacting to the figures, South West TUC regional secretary Nigel Costley has called for Purbeck employees to be given pay rises.

“Workers in Purbeck need a pay rise,” he said.

“There is a growing problem of in-work poverty across Britain, with working families experiencing the biggest pressure on their living standards since Victorian times.

“Pay has been squeezed at all levels below the boardroom and it is costing the south west’s economy dear.”

Purbeck was rated 27th out of 36 south west regions, with an average annual pay per full-time worker of £22,100.

Meanwhile, Poole came eighth with £25,700 and Bournemouth was 16th with £24,300.

Manpower’s study also revealed an increasing pay gap between the region’s men and women. Average annual pay for men in full-time work rose three per cent to £15.79 per hour, while women saw their pay rise just 0.9 per cent to £13.05 per hour.

Dugald McIntosh, head of engineering at Experis – Manpower’s professional services arm – said: “One reason for this growing gender divide is that many of the roles and industries which have thrived in the region in recent years still tend to be male-dominated so the sharp pay rises will be enjoyed by more men than women.

“As well as the increase in the energy sector’s pay, the transportation and storage sector saw pay shoot up 12.1 per cent over the past year and workers in agriculture also enjoyed an average 11.8 per cent pay rise.”

The district with the highest annual pay, at £36,700, was Bath & North Somerset.

Torridge was ranked lowest – with an annual average pay packet of £19,700 per full-time worker.