THERE are thousands of people living in Basingstoke and Deane who are earning less than the ‘real living wage’, according to new statistics.

Figures set out by the Office for National statistics (ONS) and analysed by the trade union the GMB show in Basingstoke and Deane there are 8,300 jobs where employees are earning less than the real living wage of £9 per hour.

According to the ONS, out of all full-time positions in the borough, the rate of pay of 10 per cent of these mean the employee earns less that £9 an hour.

However, for part-time roles the figures show 100 per cent of workers are earning less than the living wage.

Paul Maloney, GMB Southern regional secretary, said: “There is a very high proportion of working families struggling to make ends meet every day. Policies need to take this into account.

“On support, these families are dependent on housing benefits. They are adversely affected by the cuts to working families tax credits as it transitions to the universal credit system.

“The cuts should be reversed.”

Leader of the Basingstoke Labour Group, Councillor Paul Harvey said that policies need to change to ensure people living in the borough have a better quality of life.

He said: "These are just the figures that we have seen from the GMB, in reality the true figure is a lot worse.

"We want Basingstoke to be a affluent town, but in doing so we need to ensure there is economical growth which supports that and people are earning enough to work and live here."

The real living wage is independently-calculated by the Living Wage Foundation and takes costs such as rent, childcare and household bills into account.

Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Councillor Ken Rhatigan, said: “In Basingstoke we have a low level of unemployment and a wide range of jobs available in a number of sectors.

“Working closely with the business community, we have aspirations to widen the range of roles we have available for our residents now and for the future.

“We recognise the importance of the real living wage and would encourage other local employers to do the same as this can help to improve staff motivation and retention and improve customer service.”

According to GMB, across the south east there are 549,650 residents who are in employment but are earning less than £9 an hour.

According to GMB’s findings, the region with highest number of residents in jobs earning less than the real living wage of £9 per hour is Medway with 24,600 jobs.

Elsewhere Portsmouth, has 21,500 residents earning less than the real living wage, with 19,600 in Southampton.