Rising numbers of male workers earn less than the average wage

The male workforce has been “hollowed out,” with more men earning considerably less and considerably more than the national average wage, according to research from think tank the Resolution Foundation.

The study, Counting the Hours, found that less men were earning something close to the average wage. The share of men earning less than £175 a week (a third of the typical male weekly wage) has increased by 70% over the last 20 years, while the share of higher-paid men earning more than £1,060 (double the typical weekly wage) has increased by 15%.

Stephen Clarke, an analyst from the Resolution Foundation, said: "When people talk about the labour market 'hollowing out' they're normally referring to mid-skilled jobs moving to other parts of the world, or disappearing altogether as a result of automation.

"But Britain's real hollowing out problem has much more to do with the hours people are working than the rates of pay different jobs bring.”