In most sectors of the economy wages are still worth less than before the financial crisis, a new study reveals.

Nurses and teachers are among the hardest hit, with those employed in health and social work and education £36 a week worse off than in 2009, according to TUC research.

Bankers are doing the best, with the average salary in the financial sector up by 9.3% or £119 a week since 2009 reaching a record average of £1,405 per week.

The hardest hit workers are those working for membership organisations, repair services and in furnishings. Their pay is £86 per week lower in real terms than a decade ago.

The next worse performing sector is manufacturing of food and drink, where real pay is still down by £52 per week.

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TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s not right that pay is racing ahead in the City when most working people are still worse off than a decade ago.

“The architects of the financial crisis are earning record amounts while teachers and nurses struggle to get by.

“Workers deserve a much fairer share of the wealth they create.  That’s why unions need new rights to access workplaces and negotiate industry-wide rates.

“Pay inequality helped drive the last financial crash. It can’t be left unaddressed.”

The TUC analysis compared official average weekly earnings figures from the Office for National Statistics for December 2008-February 2009 and December 2018-February 2019, taking into account inflation.

Weekly pay by industry (£), 2009 to 2019 (prices = 2018)

Industrial sector	Dec 2008 – Feb 2009	Dec 2018 – Feb 2019	% change	£ change
Financial & Insurance Activities	1286	1405	9.3	119
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	373	398	6.7	25
Manufacturing: Chemicals, man-made fibres	732	772	5.5	40
Retail Trade and Repairs	317	331	4.3	14
Administrative & Support Service Activities	419	435	4.0	17
Manufacturing: Engineering & Allied Industries	688	703	2.1	14
Transport and Storage	599	608	1.5	9
Accommodation & Food Service Activities	254	256	0.9	2
Information and Communication	870	876	0.6	5
Manufacturing: Textile, Leather & Clothing	439	439	0.0	0
Real Estate Activities	531	522	-1.6	-9
Wholesale Trade	636	618	-2.8	-18
Mining and Quarrying	1276	1240	-2.9	-36
Other Manufacturing	558	541	-3.0	-17
Electricity, Gas and Water Supply	720	696	-3.4	-25
Manufacturing: Metals & Metal Products	608	585	-3.7	-23
Construction	656	630	-4.0	-26
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	430	405	-5.9	-25
Professional, Scientific & Technical	772	724	-6.3	-48
Education	485	448	-7.5	-36
Health and Social Work	478	441	-7.6	-36
Public Administration	640	583	-8.9	-57
Manufacturing: Food, Beverage & Tobacco	571	519	-9.1	-52
Other Service Activities (incl. membership organisations, repair services)	472	386	-18.2	-86