Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings 2011
Published: March 2012
Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings (ASHE) - Earnings
This release presents the results of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for April 2011, with
data on UK employees’ median levels of pay. The data was obtained from the National Statistics
website and is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information
(OPSI). Two data sets are available, the first relates to median gross weekly earnings of those
persons for whom Blackburn with Darwen is a place of work and the second median gross weekly
earnings for residents of Blackburn with Darwen.
Information on wage levels can be used to evaluate the living standards of the residents and the
ability of residents to afford housing.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides information about the levels, distribution
and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations in the
United Kingdom.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings is based on a sample of employee jobs taken from HM
Revenue & Customs PAYE records.
When analysing the level of earnings of Pennine Lancashire residents it is important to note the
difference between incomes derived by residents who may or may not be commuting out the
borough to work (i.e. resident earnings) and earnings derived from work within the county
boundary alone (i.e. workplace earnings). These two alternative data sets, of median weekly pay,
from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), are shown side by side.
The ASHE results do not cover the self-employed, nor do they cover employees not paid during the
reference period. For the ASHE results the median (middle value) is used in this article as the
headline statistic. The median is the value below which 50% of employees are allocated and is
more reflective of the 'typical' wage or income. It is preferred over the mean (average) for earnings
data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings
data.
Page 1 of 9
Summary

The 2011 result reveals that the average full-time median weekly earnings for residents in the
Blackburn with Darwen area is £412.80, 17.9% lower than the national average of £503.10 and
10.3% less than the regional average.

Between 2010 and 2011 resident based earnings in Blackburn with Darwen decreased by
5.8% from £438.2 to £412.80.

Across Pennine Lancashire resident earnings differ from workplace earnings, in five of the six
districts residents earn more than people who commute into the area to work, with the
exception of Blackburn with Darwen where workplace earnings are higher than resident
earnings.

The largest difference between resident and workplace earnings is in the Rossendale where
residents earn on average £53.0 a week more than those people that work in businesses in
the area. In Blackburn with Darwen resident based earnings are £33.40 less than people that
work in the borough.

Blackburn has the lowest resident based earnings and Pendle the lowest workplace based
earnings of the six Pennine Lancashire districts

The gap between resident male and female full-time wage rates remains substantial within
Pennine Lancashire districts. The median weekly resident earning for males of £421.6 in
Blackburn with Darwen is considerably higher than the female earnings of £339.5 (i.e. the
median wage for male residents is 24% higher than that for females). This difference between
male and female full-time resident earnings in Blackburn with Darwen is the second highest of
any Pennine Lancashire district.

Weekly resident based earnings for females who work part time is higher than for males
working part–time, a trend echoed both regionally and nationally. The size of the gap is
£17.10. Hourly earnings however show that part time wage level is £7.40 overall, but £7.69 for
males compared to £7.21 for females.

Similarly the median weekly workplace earnings (£458.9) for males who work in Blackburn with
Darwen is 14.5% or £58 higher than that for females (£400.9).

Over the last year resident full-time earnings for males decreased by 6.5% (from £450.8 to
£421.6), a decrease of £29.20 and for females by £102.2 or 23.1% (from £441.7 to £339.5),

Workplace earnings during the same period for males decreased by 1.7% or £8.10 and by
4.7% or £19.80 for females.

In general not taking into account the gender of wage earners, full-time resident based
earnings are lower than workplace earnings in Blackburn with Darwen.

All districts show higher male than female resident earnings, the largest difference being in
the Ribble Valley (£172.3.10) and Blackburn with Darwen (£82.1) and the lowest is in Burnley
(£40.9).

All districts with the exception of Burnley have higher male full-time workplace earnings than
females.

Over the last year gross annual resident based earnings for all full-time employees in
Blackburn with Darwen decreased by 8.2% and by 0.2% regionally, nationally resident based
earnings increased by 1.4%.

Gross annual resident earnings in Blackburn with Darwen for females were 15% or £3,259 less
than that for males, the third highest difference after the Ribble Valley and Rossendale.
Page 2 of 9
Change in Full-time resident and Workplace Earnings Pennine Lancashire
The table below shows change in resident based earnings for Blackburn with Darwen and Pennine
Lancashire districts, Blackburn with Darwen is the only Pennine Lancashire district to experience a
decrease in resident earnings. Gross weekly earnings have fallen from £438.2 in 2010 to £412.80 in
2011, a decrease of £31.10 or 5.8% over the year.
All other Pennine Lancashire districts have seen an increase in resident earnings with the highest
change in the Ribble Valley and Burnley. There has been a 1.1% increase in earnings for Lancashire
as a whole
Table 1: Blackburn with Darwen and Pennine Lancashire RESIDENT based earnings in 2010
versus 2011
Difference £
2010 (A)
2011 (B)
% change
(A-B)
412.8
-25.4
Blackburn with Darwen
438.2
-5.8%
430.7
18.8
Burnley
411.9
4.6%
440.8
15.1
Hyndburn
425.7
3.5%
429.3
14.2
Pendle
415.1
3.4%
518.7
30.7
Ribble Valley
488.0
6.3%
438.5
7.4
Rossendale
431.1
1.7%
Lancashire
North West
GB
467.0
471.0
501.7
472
460
503.1
5.0
-11.0
1.4
1.1%
-2.3%
0.3%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS
During the same period workplace earnings (i.e. earnings for those for whom Blackburn with
Darwen is a place of work) shows a 0.5% increase.
Table 1.1: Blackburn with Darwen and Pennine Lancashire WORKPLACE based earnings in
2010 versus 2011
Difference £
2010 (A)
2011 (B)
% change
(A-B)
446.2
2.3
Blackburn with Darwen
443.9
0.5%
421.3
9.9
Burnley
411.4
2.4%
426.8
6.8
Hyndburn
420.0
1.6%
384.2
-26.6
Pendle
410.8
-6.5%
504.1
54.5
Ribble Valley
449.6
12.1%
385.5
-14.3
Rossendale
399.8
-3.6%
Lancashire
North West
GB
453.8
466.9
500.3
444.5
460.0
502.6
-9.3
-6.6
2.3
-2.0%
-1.4%
0.5%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS
Workplace earnings for Pendle and Rossendale have decreased by 6.5% and 3.6% respectively.
Page 3 of 9
2011 Full-time resident and workplace Earnings Pennine Lancashire
One consequence of the overall lower level of competitiveness, and historically a high
concentration of employment in traditional sectors, is that earnings of people working in Pennine
Lancashire districts tend to be below or lower than those of the North West region as a whole and
the UK average.
The ASHE data shows the median resident based earnings for Blackburn with Darwen in 2011 was
£412.8, while workplace based earnings was £446.2.
The graph and table below shows workplace and resident based earnings for the six Pennine
Lancashire districts.
Figure 1: Workplace and resident full-time median weekly earnings for Pennine Lancashire districts
Rossendale
Workplace
Resident
Ribble Valley
Pendle
Hyndburn
Burnley
Blackburn with Darwen
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Table 1.2: Resident and Workplace based earning for Pennine Lancashire districts, 2011
Resident earnings
Workplace earnings
Difference
%
(B)
(B)
£ (A-B)
(Residence/Workplace)
Blackburn
£412.8
£446.2
with Darwen
-£33.40
-7.5%
Burnley
£430.7
£421.3
£9.40
2.2%
Hyndburn
£440.8
£426.8
£14.0
3.3%
Pendle
£429.3
£384.2
£45.10
11.7%
Ribble Valley
£518.7
£504.1
£14.60
2.9%
Rossendale
£438.5
£385.5
£53.0
13.7%
Lancashire
North West
GB
£472.0
£460.0
£503.1
£444.5
£460.3
£502.6
£27.50
-£0.30
£0.50
6.2%
-0.1%
0.1%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS
The 2011 result reveal:
 Median weekly earnings for full-time residents in Blackburn with Darwen (£412.8) were £90.3
or 17.9% lower than the national average of £503.1 and 10.3% (£47.2) lower than the North
West average.
 All districts have resident based earnings that are lower than the national average.
 In Blackburn with Darwen residents earn £33.0 or 7.5% less than people who commute into
the area to work.
 Blackburn with Darwen is the only district where resident based earnings are lower than
workplace earnings
 The largest difference between residents and workplace earnings is in Pendle and
Rossendale where resident based earnings are higher than workplace earnings by £45.10
and £53 respectively.
 Median workplace earnings for Blackburn with Darwen were 11.2% lower than the national
average of £502.6 and 3.1% lower than the North West average.
Page 4 of 9
2 Residence and Workplace by gender and full-time work
Table 2: Full-time Resident and workplace earnings for males by district, 2011
Male full-time
Resident Workplace
Difference
%
earnings
earnings
(£)
(Residence/Workplace)
(A)
(A)
(A-B)
Blackburn with Darwen
£421.6
£458.9
-£37.30
-8.1%
Burnley
£436.0
£392.9
£43.10
11.0%
Hyndburn
£453.5
£430.5
£23.0
5.3%
Pendle
£448.0
£461.0
-£13.0
-2.8%
Ribble Valley
£617.2
£559.8
£57.40
10.3%
Rossendale
£457.0
£415.3
£41.70
10.0%
Lancashire
North West
GB
£504.7
£498.4
£541.7
£478.4
£498.5
£540.9
£26.30
-£0.10
£0.80
5.5%
0.0%
0.1%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS





Median earnings for full time males in Blackburn with Darwen show resident based earnings
to be £37.3 or 8.1% lower than workplace based earnings.
Of the six Pennine Lancashire districts, males resident based earnings is highest in the Ribble
valley £617.2 and lowest in Blackburn with Darwen (£421.6)
Male resident based earnings are £120 or 22% lower than national earnings and 15.4% lower
than regional earnings.
Workplace based earnings for males in Blackburn with Darwen are lower than both
corresponding regional and national levels.
Male workplace earnings (458.9) in Blackburn with Darwen are 2 nd highest of the six Pennine
Lancashire districts after Ribble valley £559.8.
Table 2.1: Full-time Resident and workplace earnings for females by district, 2011
Female full-time
Resident Workplace
Difference
%
earnings
earnings
(£)
(Residence/Workplace)
(A-B)
Blackburn with Darwen
£339.5
£400.9
-£61.4
-15.3%
Burnley
£395.1
£437.8
-£42.7
-9.8%
Hyndburn
£410.0
£383.5
£26.5
6.9%
Pendle
£398.7
£358.8
£39.9
11.1%
Ribble Valley
£444.9
£409.0
£35.9
8.8%
Rossendale
£383.3
£355.0
£28.3
8.0%
Lancashire
North West
GB
£421.6
£415.6
£446.3
£398.2
£417.0
£445.7
£23.4
-£1.4
£0.6
5.9%
-0.3%
0.1%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS




Median earnings for full time females in Blackburn with Darwen show resident based
earnings to be £61.4 or 15.3% lower than workplace earnings.
Of the six Pennine Lancashire authorities full time earnings for female residents is lowest in
Blackburn with Darwen.
Female resident based earnings are £160.80 or 24% lower than national earnings and nearly
a fifth lower than regional earnings.
The female workplace earnings of (£400.90) in Blackburn with Darwen are the 3 rd highest of
Pennine Lancashire districts after Burnley (£437.8) and Ribble valley (£409.0)
Page 5 of 9
3: Earnings – Gender pay gap
The tables below show workplace place and resident earnings for full-time males and females.
Table 3: Resident earnings for full-time workers, 2011
Male
FT
Female
FT
Difference
(£)
(A-B)
% (Residence/Workplace)
Blackburn with Darwen
Burnley
Hyndburn
Pendle
Ribble Valley
Rossendale
£421.6
£436.0
£453.5
£448.0
£617.2
£457.0
£339.5
£395.1
£410.0
£398.7
£444.9
£383.3
£82.1
£40.9
£43.5
£49.3
£172.3
£73.7
24.2%
10.4%
10.6%
12.4%
38.7%
19.2%
Lancashire
North West
GB
£504.7
£498.4
£541.7
£421.6
£415.6
£446.3
£83.1
£82.8
£95.4
19.7%
19.9%
21.4%
Resident based earnings
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS Crown copyright


Resident male full-time earnings are £82.1 or 24.2% higher than that for females, this
difference is the second highest of the Pennine Lancashire districts after the Ribble Valley.
All districts show higher full time male than female earnings for residents the largest
difference is in the Ribble Valley (£172.30 and Blackburn with Darwen (£82.1). In the Ribble
Valley male resident full time earnings are nearly 40% higher than that for females, while in
Blackburn with Darwen male resident based earnings are 24% higher than that for females.
Table 3.1: Workplace earnings for full-time workers, 2011
Difference
Workplace based
Male
Female FT
(£)
earnings
FT
(A-B)
Blackburn with Darwen
£458.9
£400.9
£58.0
Burnley
£392.9
£437.8
-£44.9
Hyndburn
£430.5
£383.5
£47.0
Pendle
£461.0
£358.8
£102.2
Ribble Valley
£559.8
£409.0
£150.8
Rossendale
£415.3
£355.0
£60.3
Lancashire
North West
GB
£478.4
£498.5
£540.9
£398.2
£417.0
£445.7
% (Residence/Workplace)
£80.2
£81.5
£95.2
14.5%
-10.3%
12.3%
28.5%
36.9%
17.0%
20.1%
19.5%
21.4%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS Crown copyright


Full time workplace earnings for male are higher than that for females, exception of Burnley.
In Blackburn with Darwen male workplace earnings are nearly 15% higher than that for
females. The third largest percentage difference after the Ribble Valley and Pendle.
Caution should be exercised when looking at gender pay gaps as they may well, in part, be due to
the types of work that males and females tend to do and the different level of pay associated with
a particular occupation or industry
Page 6 of 9
4: Earnings – Blackburn with Darwen
The table below shows resident and workplace earnings for different groups in Blackburn with
Darwen, workplace earnings are for those who commute into the borough to work while resident
based earnings are for those who work either within the borough or commute elsewhere
Table 4 Median Gross Weekly Earnings by Place of Residence and Place of Work, April 2011
Blackburn with Darwen
North West
Great Britain
Residence -based Workplace-based
Residence-based
Residence-based
% Resident/
%
Weekly % change Weekly % change Workplace Weekly pay % change Weekly
change
pay (£) 2010-2011 pay (£) 2010-2011
(£)
2010-2011 pay (£)
2010-2011
Full-time males
421.6
-9.7%
458.9
1.8%
-8.1%
498.4
-1.2%
541.7
0.1%
Part-time males
150.6
5.9%
185.8
-
-18.9%
138.7
1.2%
143.3
-0.1%
All males
388.2
-2.0%
417.5
2.5%
-7.0%
448.6
-3.4%
498.3
-0.3%
Full-time females
339.5
-19.3%
400.9
-9.2%
-15.3%
415.6
-0.6%
446.3
1.4%
Part-time females
167.7
5.5%
153.6
-
9.2%
156.9
1.5%
158.5
0.1%
All females
277.9
-1.3%
328.9
-1.4%
-15.5%
306.6
0.0%
319.3
0.7%
All full-time
employees
412.8
-5.8%
446.2
0.5%
-7.5%
460.0
-2.4%
503.1
0.3%
All part-time
employees
166.4
17.0%
190.8
17.9%
-12.8%
152.0
0.9%
154.6
0.0%
All employees
328.2
-4.4%
364.0
-3.7%
-9.8%
373.7
-1.7%
406.4
0.0%
Figures are for all employees on adult rates of pay not affected by absence.
Source ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

Resident based earnings for all full-time employees in Blackburn with Darwen decreased by
approximately 6% and by 2.4% in the North West region. Nationally resident based earnings
for all full time employees increased by 0.3%.

Gross weekly earnings for part-time males increased by 5.9% (increasing from £142.2 to
£150.6) and by £8.20 or 5.5% for females. All other groups experienced a decrease in their
gross weekly earnings.

Gross weekly earnings for full time females decreased by £81.20 or a fifth and by 10% for
males.

Earnings for part-time female residents is higher than for part-time males, a trend that is
echoed both regionally and nationally.
Page 7 of 9
All part time employees
Workplace
Resident
All full time employees
Part time female

Residents based earnings is lower than
workplace earnings for all groups.

The largest difference in resident and
workplace based earnings is for parttime males, full time females and all
females. Overall
resident
based
earning for all employees is 10% lower
than for workplace employees.
Part time male
Full time female
Full time male
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
5 Median Gross Annual Earnings
As well as providing data on average gross weekly earnings, the ASHE also provides information on
average gross annual earnings. The figures are available down to the district level.
ongoing
The median earnings figures highlight the middle value for each area, therefore are not influenced
by the very large salaries earned by a relatively small number of high fliers at the top of their
professions.
Table 5: Median Gross Annual Earnings for full-time Employees by Place of Residence, April 2011
Blackburn with Darwen
Burnley
Hyndburn
Pendle
Ribble Valley
Rossendale
Lancashire
North West
Great Britain
Full-time
males
£
21,687
22,201
23,750
24,191
32,058
26,312
Full-time
females
£
18,428
21,713
21,029
21,473
22,340
21,277
Full-time employees
£
21,053
21,552
23,231
22,992
26,243
24,483
GB=100
-20.1%
-18.2%
-11.9%
-12.8%
-0.4%
-7.1%
% change 2010-2011
-8.2%
1.6%
7.3%
5.9%
9.3%
10.3%
26,894
26,164
28,596
21,713
21,684
22,938
24,650
24,242
26,357
-6.5%
-8.0%
0.0%
2.8%
-0.2%
1.4%
Source: Annual Survey Hours & Earnings, through Nomis, ONS
Median earnings for all employees by place of residence in GB for April 2010 stood at £26,357. For
the Lancashire area, the residence-based figure for all employees was £24,650, 6.5% lower than the
national average. Blackburn with Darwen’s resident-based figure of £21,053 is 20.1% lower than the
national average and 14.6% lower than the Lancashire average.
The gender split reveals that for the Blackburn with Darwen, gross annual median earnings for
female residents are 15.0% lower than gross annual median earnings for males, this equates to
£3,259 less for females than males. Gross annual earnings for both males and females are lowest of
the six Pennine Lancashire districts.
In general terms the results for the 14 local authorities broadly reflect what would be expected.
With respect to full-time earnings Fylde district manages to top the list with an average of £29,333.
West Lancashire, Ribble valley and Lancaster recorded figures of 25K or more. Districts recording
figures of less than this include many of the districts in the east of the county. Burnley and Blackburn
with Darwen recorded median wage levels below the £22K level. Blackpool recorded the lowest
gross median annual earnings of the 14 districts in Lancashire with £18,982.
Page 8 of 9
The largest change in gross annual full-time earnings has been in the Ribble Valley which saw an
increase in gross earnings of 9.3% (£2,230) more than 2010 earnings levels. Rossendale saw increase
in gross earnings of £2,292 or 10.3%
Further information
This briefing was prepared by: Saeed Patel
Research and Intelligence Officer
Corporate Research Joint Intelligence
3rd Floor Old Town Hall
saeed.patel@blackburn.gov.uk
01254 58(5106)
Page 9 of 9