But huge jumps over the decade: in 2006 6% of full-time jobs were low paid, it’s now 12%. In 2006 30% of part-time jobs were low paid, it’s now 43%.
New analysis from New Policy Institute – funded by Trust for London – gives the latest data on low pay in the capital. The full figures with graphs are available on our London's Poverty Profile pages – which provides data on over 60 inequality and poverty indicators.
The number of low-paid jobs in London has fallen very slightly in 2016, in contrast to the previous five years of increases. At 720,000, however, there are still twice as many low-paid jobs as in 2006, a period in which total employment rose by 20%. This means that the rate of low pay has increased by almost two-thirds since 2006, from 11% to 18%, so that in 2016 almost 1 in 5 jobs in London were low paid.
In 2016, 350,000 part-time jobs were low paid, equal to 43% of all part-time jobs. This is a decrease of two percentage points from the previous year. However, a decade earlier in 2006, 30% of part-time jobs were low paid, meaning significant increases over the period.
The proportion of part-time jobs that are low paid has been increasing for around a decade, although not continuously. In comparison, the proportion of full-time jobs that are low paid started increasing around 2010, around the period real earnings began falling in London. This reflects, among other things, the increasing cost of living in London, which is included in the London Living Wage calculation.
In 2016, the five boroughs (Bexley, Harrow, Enfield, Sutton and Waltham Forest) with the highest proportion of jobs paid below the London Living Wage are all in Outer London. In these boroughs, over 30% of jobs are low paid.
Many boroughs have experienced relatively large changes in the number of low-paid jobs compared with 2013-14. For example, mostly Outer London boroughs such as Sutton, Merton, Havering, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Barnet all saw increases of five percentage points or more.
“No further increase in the proportion of low-paid jobs in London is welcome. However, low pay rates are still higher than a decade ago, and particular employment sectors have a very poor record that must be addressed.”
Adam Tinson, Senior Researcher from NPI
“London has seen a significant growth in jobs over the last few years. Unfortunately, too many are low paid. Sadiq Khan has made a positive commitment to making the capital a Living Wage city. This data shows that whilst there has been a halt in the rise in low pay, there is still a long way to go to making sure Londoners are paid fairly. Nearly 3,000 employers have committed to paying a Living Wage, with more than 1,000 in London accredited with the Living Wage Foundation. That’s a great step in the right direction but many more need to sign up. Not only is it good for employees but it’s also good for companies, with clear evidence that retention rates improve.”
Mubin Haq, Director of Policy & Grants from Trust for London
“The Mayor is determined to tackle low pay across the city so that all Londoners are able to benefit from the capital’s economic prosperity. He is pleased that the number of low-paid jobs in London has fallen but recognises much more needs to be done. That is why he passionately supports the London Living Wage, which now has more than 1,000 businesses accredited and has tasked his deputy mayor’s with rooting out bad employment practices at City Hall and across Mayoral bodies.”
Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business
The full data is available on the London's Poverty Profile section of the website.