November 2009
Average (median) earnings for full-time jobs based in East Sussex are lower than in the
South East or Great Britain as a whole. Average full-time wages for people resident in East
Sussex are also less than the average for the country or the region, though the gap is
smaller. Full-time female pay remains lower than for males.
• In 2009 the gross median average wage in East Sussex was £442 per week based on full-time
jobs in East Sussex. This is 14% lower than the South East average of £514 and 9% lower than
the figure for Great Britain (£490). The gross median average weekly pay for full-time workers
who live in East Sussex was higher at £477.
Workplace-based wages
• Earnings in East Sussex are the lowest of any county or unitary authority in the South East.
Average pay for all jobs (full and part-time) in the county is £341 per week, compared to £415
for the region.
• Across East Sussex workplaces, pay varies considerably from district to district. Full-time
earnings are lowest in Hastings at £386 and highest in Eastbourne at £467 per week.
• Full-time male pay in the county, at £470, is 16% higher than that earned by their female
counterparts (£394).
• Wages for all jobs in the county, both full and part-time, increased by just 0.6% since 2008,
while pay for only full-time jobs increased by 3.5%.
Residence-based wages
• East Sussex residents’ wages are the fourth lowest of any county or unitary authority in the
region.
• Among full-time employees resident in East Sussex, Wealden residents earn the most, at £557
per week. Hastings residents earn less than the average wage in their local economy, with fulltime workers earning £386 per week.
Workplace-based average median earnings for full-time workers, 2009
£600
Male
£550
Female
Weekly full-time pay
£500
£450
£400
£350
£300
£250
£200
Great Britain
South East
East Sussex
Eastbourne
Hastings
Lewes
Rother
Wealden
Workplace-based average median earnings for full-time workers
2006
2007
2008
2009
Eastbourne
Hastings
Lewes
Rother
Wealden
East Sussex
£414
£372
£445
£376
£400
£408
£453
£379
£458
£344
£430
£414
£474
£386
£429
£398
£433
£427
£466
£386
£479
£420
£427
£442
South East
£469
£482
£501
£514
Great Britain
£445
£459
£479
£490
Further information
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is based on a sample of employee jobs taken from
HM Revenue & Customs PAYE records. Information on earnings and hours is obtained in confidence
from employers. ASHE does not cover the self-employed nor does it cover employees not paid during
the reference period.
Median pay is determined by ranking all wages in ascending order. The median is the mid-point of
this ranking with 50 per cent of wages below the median and 50 per cent above. The median is
accepted as the best average to use as mean average may be skewed by a small number of very
large figures for income. Data on mean incomes are also available on East Sussex in Figures.
Resident earnings in East Sussex exceed employee earnings as a result of out-commuting – people
travelling to work outside the county to secure higher wages.
• For more information about ASHE data visit the ONS website.
• East Sussex in Figures has detailed data about workplace based and residence based
earnings.
• For further information on earnings, contact Lenna Santamaría on 01273 481619 or e-mail
[email protected]
Contact details
The Research and Information Team supports the strategic planning activities of the County Council’s Transport
and Environment Department. It also provides intelligence to assist with service planning and strategy
development across East Sussex generally and manages the East Sussex in Figures (ESiF) data observatory.
ESiF is a web-based information system that contains
detailed, up-to-date and reliable information on a very wide
range of topics. It is free and very easy to use and puts
individual users in control. ESiF lets you specify exactly what
data you want to see (for the places and time periods you
are interested in) and how you want to view it (as a table,
chart or map).
Visit www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk
or e-mail [email protected]
for more information.