Thousands of workers in Perth and Kinross are earning less than the national living wage, the PA can reveal.

New statistics from the Office of National Statistics show around 15,000 workers in the region earned less than £7.83 an hour in 2017.

The represents over a fifth (22 per cent) of the total workforce across the region.

The alarming figures also revealed a big gender gap with 25 per cent of females earning below the living wage compared with 18.8 per cent of males.

Sandy Watts, chief executive of Perth Citizens Advice Bureau, told the PA about two-thirds of clients contacted them with money problems while in-work poverty was becoming an increasing issue.

She said: “In recent years wages have not kept pace with inflation and we see many families who are struggling to make ends meet.

“More than half of our clients with debt problems are in work but about 40 per cent of clients have incomes below the official poverty level and another 20 per cent have incomes below the UK average.

“Many of our clients have difficulty paying for their essential living expenses such as rent, gas, electricity and food.

“We regularly refer people to the food banks or help clients to make applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund.”

Although the national living wage is set at £7.83 and is set to rise to £8.21 in April, it is lower for those under 25, ranging from £7.38 for those aged 21-24, £5.90 for those aged 18-20, £4.20 for under 18s and £3.70 for apprentices.

Sandy added: “The living wage is a starting point for addressing poverty but it is not enough and it does not help young people under the age of 25 whose entitlement is less.

“Someone aged over 25 receiving the living wage would have to work at least 40 hours per week to escape the poverty threshold and would still be well below the average UK income.

“But it is increasingly difficult to find full-time secure employment.

“Many people in low-paid jobs are underemployed and those working in the gig economy may have no stability at all, with hours of work changing every week without notice, making it impossible to budget for regular household expenses.”

Despite the national living wage being set at £.7.83, many companies have chosen to become real living wage employers, with staff earning £8,75 an hour, and £9 from last week.

One such employer is the Enchanted Forest and bosses there underlined their commitment by projecting the Living Wage Foundation logo above Loch Dunmore in Faskally Wood.

Zoë Squair, creative producer of The Enchanted Forest, said: “We employ a significant amount of people on a seasonal basis every year to make the Enchanted Forest the success that it is.

“With over 80,000 visitors to the show in 2018, quite simply without these short-term employees The Enchanted Forest just wouldn’t happen.

“As a result, in line with our community principles, we are delighted to be a living wage accredited employer and support living wage with this special light show.”