WHERE you live in Somerset could determine how wealthy you are, according to research published today, Monday, November 9.

Spare a thought for people living in West Somerset, who are among the lowest earners in the South-West.

If they want to boost their salaries, maybe they should think of moving to North Somerset, where the average wage is £10,000 more than in the Minehead area.

Average pay in our neck of the woods is Sedgemoor - £31,900; Taunton Deane - £31,500; South Somerset - £27,800; West Somerset - £25,200.

The findings of the ManpowerGroup Pay League show the top average earnings in the South-West are ££12,000 more than the lowest.

The most well off in the region are those living in the east, who are among the best paid in the country, while those in the west take home below the national average.

The overall average pay in the South-West is £31,000, £2,500 below the national average.

 

TOP EARNERS IN THE SOUTH-WEST.

1. Tewkesbury, £37,300.

2. North Somerset, £35,900.

3. Christchurch, £35,700.

 

OTHERS.

7. Bath and North East Somerset, £34,200.

15. Sedgemoor, £31,900.

17. Taunton Deane, £31,500.

21. Mid Devon, £29,200.

26. South Somerset, £27,800.

 

LOWEST EARNERS.

32. Torridge, £26,600.

33. West Somerset, £25,200.

34. Torbay, £24,800.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dugald McIntosh, Head of Engineering at Experis, ManpowerGroup’s global professional services arm, said: "There are lots of opportunities for workers across the region and competition for talent is helping push up wages.

"Some employers are so keen to find the right hires that they are looking to bring in talent even when they’re not hiring for specific positions.

"We expect demand for candidates to rise even further with new opportunities opening up in the region over the next few months, like the new power station at Hinkley Point.”

“In many parts of the region, it’s candidates who are calling the shots.

"Competition for the best talent means candidates are being much more demanding over terms.

"Firms are offering generous working conditions and higher pay as they compete for top hires, but candidates are loath to travel distances of even a couple of miles for work, meaning companies outside city centres can struggle to bring in new workers.”

ManpowerGroup’s analysis has revealed that the gender pay gap in the South West is narrowing.

Women, who on average earn £13.25, compared to men who earn £15.78, saw their pay rise 1.7% while men’s fell 0.3%.

Dugald McIntosh again: “The gender pay gap in the South-West seems to be narrowing.

"One reason for this slimming gender divide is that some of the roles and industries which tend to be male-dominated, such as the production sector, have seen average pay fall.

"In contrast, the service sector, which tends to attract more women, has seen pay increase over the past year.

"We have also seen attempts from companies in the region to address the gender pay gap, with many companies offering childcare vouchers to help women come back to work after maternity leave and other companies, like EDF Energy, trying to bring more women into sectors where men have traditionally dominated.”