The study for the TUC revealed 20 per cent of staff in key sectors reduced their spending at the end of the week or month because they faced running out of money, or because they had already run out of money.

Around one in nine (11 per cent) told the TUC that their levels of debt had increased since the pandemic began.

And around six per cent said that they had taken on a second job to make ends meet.

More than one in four (27 per cent) said they don’t believe they receive a fair wage for the work that they do.

Research published by the TUC in July found that more than a million children of key workers are currently living in poverty.

The union body says the main reasons for key worker family poverty are low pay and insecure hours.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Our shop workers, care assistants and school support staff have worked tirelessly to keep this country going through the pandemic.

“The very least they deserve in return for their hard work is a decent standard of living for their families.

“But many are struggling just to pay their basic bills and put food on the table. And one in five are facing the trauma of running out of money before pay day. That’s not right.

“Enough is enough. Ministers must use the autumn spending review to give all of our key workers the pay rise they so badly need. We must get the minimum wage up to £10 an hour to stop millions of working people from living in poverty.”