This table shows estimates of the numbers covered and the wages gained in the London living wage campaign between 2005 and 2012 (updated 5 November; new sign-ups mainly from list of accredited employers shown in italics).

Italicised employers committed to LW during 2012 (and most of these are taken from the list of accredited employers, so others may be missing, and in some cases, these employers will have adopted the LW before 2012)

Source: Author’s calculations

Note about the calculations: These figures are calculated using the difference between the NMW and LLW except for those working in Canary Wharf and the City, and Lush, as research suggests that these workers were already paid about £1 more than the NMW and in these cases, half the difference has been used. Full time workers are assumed to work 36 hours a week for 52 weeks a year: 1872 hours a year (although many do work long hours of overtime which are not included here). Half the workers in higher education, all those at the London Fire Brigade, the GLA and MOPAC, those in the Third Sector, some of those working for Local Authorities and Universities, schools, the Tate, St Lukes, the DCFS and some workers in finance are assumed to work 15 hours a week as the vast majority are part-time: 780 hours a year.

The difference (or half difference) between the NMW and the LLW is applied to each hour worked for each worker for the years when the improvement in pay were in place.

In 2012 the new living wage rate was NOT announced as previously, in May or June, and the announcement was delayed until November. For these reasons, I have applied the 2011 rates to 2012. Calculations for 2013 will then use the new LW and the 2012 NMW rates.

The differences between the annual rates of the NMW and the LLW

* set by the Government funded Low Pay Commission (http://www.lowpay.gov.uk)
** calcuated by the GLA from 2005 (http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economic_unit/workstreams/living-wage.jsp)

* in relation to the Olympics, I have used ODA data published in September 2010 indicating that 82% of employment was compliant with Living Wage. At that time, 6,243 were employed on the park - assuming 10% were in low wage positions equates to 624 workers and 80% of these are assumed to have been getting the LW (500 workers).

During the Olympics, in the summer of 2012, some 100,000 jobs in cleaning, retail and security were filled for 6 weeks and these were offered at the living wage rate. The figures are calculated on the basis of the jobs being full time (36 hours) and comprising 216 hours in total.

** the accumulated money is based on annual calculations for the sector, depending upon compliance with the living wage during that year

Accredited living wage employers outside London (as at 5 November 2012)
Birmingham City Council
Brighton and Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum
Hermes
Highland College
Intact Centre, Preston
Isla Bikes
Jigsaw Support Services
Manchester College
NAVCA
Oxford Council
Pathway Intermediates
Penrose Care
Preston Council
Salix Homes
Scotswood National Community Garden
UPG Payments
Urban Cottage Industries
USSA
Vestigo
Wales and West Housing

Note: Information provided by the Living Wage Foundation but there will be other employers that are committed but not yet accredited.

Calculations about the impact of the living wage outside London include the employers in this table along with: Scotland’s NHS and Local Government (estimated to cover 20,000 workers); Aviva, Barclays, HSBC, Friends Life, KPMG, Standard Life, Standard Chartered (estimated to cover 6000 workers).

Calculations suggest that the outside London the impact covers an estimated: 30,006 workers redistributing £33,550,608

Jane Wills
Queen Mary, University of London
5 November 2012