Only half of North West companies pay the living wage

A new survey from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has revealed the amount of work there is still to be done if we are to make social mobility a reality for all. One of the most startling figures from the report showed that only 50.7% of respondents in the North West were confident that their employer paid the living wage.

The survey covered a number of issues related to social mobility and formed the basis for a new report: Who accounts for social mobility? Is enough being done, published today, 21 October.

Despite only 50.7% of respondents saying their company paid the living wage, 81.1% believed that their company should pay the wage and 30.7% believed that social mobility was not an issue that was of importance to their employer.

Sarah Hathaway, head of ACCA UK said: “It’s disappointing to see that only half of employers are paying the living wage. One of the biggest barriers to social mobility is being able to earn a living wage.

A stark example of the amount of work still to be done, if that while only half of companies are paying the living wage, this was among the highest in the UK. Of course we have to be mindful of the wider economic circumstances, we are still emerging from the financial crisis but living standards will not increase while we have so many employers across the region not paying their staff the living wage.”

ACCA’s report comes as Alan Milburn’s child poverty report criticises the government for not doing enough to lift children out of poverty.

Sarah Hathaway concludes: “ACCA and Alan Milburn’s reports show there is a long way to go. We must also recognise that the government cannot do this alone. Schools, employers and professional bodies all have a vital role to play. ACCA has always believed that access to the professions should be judged on ability not background, or the ability to be able to afford to go to university. We hope that other professions and employers will follow our lead and raise the prospects for all the people of the North West irrespective of their background.”