Average gross weekly pay - for North Lanarkshire’s residents (c17)

What this means

• This measures the average earnings in pounds for employees living in the area who work full-time and are on adult rates of pay and whose pay was not affected by absence.
• Earnings information collected relates to gross pay before tax, national insurance or other deductions, and excludes payments in kind.
• The data for this indicator is derived from a national survey (the national Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings); it therefore represents a sample of the population relating to a pay period in April each year. They survey does not cover those who are self-employed.

Why this matters

• Measuring gross weekly pay for local residents is important because it shows whether people are earning enough to support a decent standard of living, including everyday costs like rent, food, transport, and childcare. It highlights whether local jobs are mainly low‑paid or if residents are having to rely on overtime, multiple jobs, or in‑work benefits to get by.
• Understanding earnings levels also helps assess job quality, not just job quantity.  It shows whether local employers are offering competitive pay, which influences whether people stay in an area or commute elsewhere for better‑paid work.  It also provides a clearer picture of whether economic growth is genuinely improving people’s lives. 

Gross weekly pay for North Lanarkshire’s residents became higher than the average earnings nationally for the first time ever in 2022.  Results each year show gross weekly pay has continued to increase positively year on year since.

• The latest results for gross weekly pay in North Lanarkshire show this to be £775.10 (Figure 17a) - an increase of £36.10 from the previous year (Figure 17c), this is higher than the average increase of £35.50 nationally over the same period.
• The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline set in 2018 saw gross weekly earnings to be £545.70; at the time this was £17 lower than the national average of £562.70. Prior to this the widest gap in average earnings for North Lanarkshire compared to Scotland was £42 in 2009 before the gap reduced to its narrowest point in 2019 (£11.10) just before the pandemic.
• Since 2018, this gap has seen year on year improvement and reached a point in 2022 where North Lanarkshire’s gross weekly wage was £16.60 higher than the national average.  This position has remained steady, with year on year gross weekly pay increases in North Lanarkshire tracking the national average.
• Figure 17b shows the difference between the average gross weekly pay in North Lanarkshire compared to Scotland, which has improved over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire from £17 lower to a 50p difference per week.
• Figure 17c shows at the time of The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline wages had increased by £19.90 from the previous year, the latest results show the increase from the previous year now £36.10.

The trend in gross weekly pay in North Lanarkshire is mirrored in the comparison with the national average. The comparative average gross weekly pay for the group of similar councils (£745.50) is lower than North Lanarkshire, and has experienced a lower year on year increase (£24.00) compared to £36.10 in North Lanarkshire and £35.50 nationally.

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

Improving gross weekly pay rates for residents increases household income and helps people meet their essential needs. When wages rise, residents typically have more stability, can plan ahead, and are better able to support the local economy by having more disposable income, boosting spending in local shops, services, and businesses. By reducing in‑work poverty, better pay supports a higher quality of life for lower‑income households.

As earnings rise, so too does the local tax base, enabling greater investment in public services and community priorities. Overall, improving pay levels strengthens the resilience of the labour market and ensures that economic growth benefits more people and places.