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Almost one in six workers are paid below the real Living Wage (the only rate that is calculated based on what people need to live on). At the same time, millions of people are in insecure work, including gig economy workers and those on zero-hours contracts, often because it is the only work available. Insecurity has increased in almost every sector and group. The pandemic showed that low-paid and insecure workers, such as care workers, delivery drivers and shop workers, are crucial to keeping our society functioning. Poorly paid and insecure work reduces financial resilience, mental wellbeing and physical health.
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Statistics
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Substance
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Stories
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Surveys
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Solutions
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High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards 
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
Levels of trust and social cohesion are low
Levels of trust and social cohesion are low
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already
There is little relationship between merit and reward
There is little relationship between merit and reward
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Explore the other indicators
Wealth
Wealth
Poverty
Poverty
Living standards
Living standards
Secondary school
Secondary school
Higher education
Higher education
Graduate outcomes
Graduate outcomes
Executive pay
Executive pay
Equal pay
Equal pay
Low pay
Low pay
Income tax
Income tax
Housing quality
Housing quality
Health outcomes
Health outcomes
Carbon emissions
Carbon emissions
Voice
Voice
Fair treatment
Fair treatment
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