Peter Atitebi

Younger workers in England encounter significant wage disparities based on geographic location rather than personal qualifications, according to new research highlighting regional pay inequalities. Data from the Resolution Foundation reveals substantial earning differences across England, with London workers earning nearly double their counterparts in areas like Liskeard, Cornwall. The analysis examined over 11 million early-career workers throughout England. The research indicates these wage gaps stem from workplace location rather than worker characteristics. Early-career employees face approximately 5% "place-based pay penalties," potentially costing around £1,300 annually when moving from high-paying markets like Harrogate to lower-paying areas such as Dudley. These findings challenge previous assumptions about regional wage inequality. Earlier studies suggested pay differences resulted from varying demographics between regions or local job market size. However, the new analysis demonstrates that larger job markets don't automatically generate higher wages. Cambridge workers, for […]