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.

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)