Unions estimate workers in Leicester have lost more than £42 per week on average because of wage rises being overtaken by inflation.
Going back to the start of the credit crunch in 2007, the TUC calculated that average pay has fallen in the East Midlands by 5.7 per cent in real terms – just over £25 per week.
But in Leicester, that figure was 10.4 per cent for people on hourly rates, adding up to £42.13 a week.
The TUC has launched a new Britain Needs a Pay Rise campaign to fight for improved terms for employees.
Midlands TUC regional secretary Rob Johnston said: "Across the East Midlands, families are still really struggling to make their money go far enough – and are often having to go into debt – as they experience a huge squeeze on their household incomes.
"With real wages still falling, most people are being forced to use their credit cards or their dwindling savings if they need to purchase anything beyond the most everyday of items.
"Workers' real hourly pay rates have taken a hit over the past five years because wages have failed to keep up with inflation.
"But this fall is also a result of the worrying increase in insecure and short-hours employment.
"And in many cases when people have lost their jobs, and are fortunate enough to find work, they are forced to take jobs with fewer hours and on lower rates of pay."
