Nationally, the number of people classed as
under-employed, including part-timers wanting a full-time job, has increased by
a million since the start of the economic downturn in 2008.
A total of 3.05 million workers were under-employed, with
almost two-thirds in part-time jobs, said the Office for National Statistics.
The number of under-employed workers was fairly stable in
the run-up to the recession in 2008 but has since leapt by almost half, the
figures showed.
Occupations with the highest number of under-employed
workers included cleaners, caterers and labourers.
The highest under-employment rates were in the East
Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, the North East and the South West, where more
than 10% of workers wanted to work more hours.
The biggest increase in under-employment in recent years
has been in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Regions with high under-employment rates had
above-average numbers of part-time and young workers, as well as more
low-skilled employees. The average under-employed worker earned GBP7.49 an
hour, more than GBP3 less than someone who was not under-employed, said the
ONS.
Dr John Philpott, director of The Jobs Economist, said:
"The extent of underemployment identified in these official figures
highlights the degree to which the headline unemployment count understates the
current shortage of work in the UK economy.
"While some work is obviously better than none,
approaching one in five economically active people are struggling in today's
'no or not enough work' economy. Add in the effect of falling real take home
pay for the vast majority of people in work and it becomes clear how much
distress is being suffered in the jobs market."
Reprinted from the original release issued by The Press Association
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