Nearly a quarter of workers in the West Midlands earn less than the living wage of £7.65 an hour, new statistics reveal.
And the proportion rises to around a third in blackspots such as Tamworth, Wyre Forest and Staffordshire Moorlands.
Figures released by the Living Wage Foundation show that around 494,000 people across the West Midlands are currently below the pay poverty line.
The region's pay crisis is due to be highlighted today at a rally in Victoria Square, in Birmingham city centre, which will be attended by Erdington MP Jack Dromey, Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, and Ravi Subramanian, West Midlands regional secretary for trade union Unison.
The rally, on the steps of the Council House, unveiled what the foundation says is the new living wage of £7.85 per hour which would see over 35,000 workers increase their take-home pay.
The rate announcement coincides with research from KPMG, one of the foundation's principal partners, which reveals that 5.28 million workers, or 22 per cent of the workforce, earn less than the living wage across the UK.
The research says: "In the West Midlands, 24 per cent of workers are on less than the living wage, approximately 494,000 people.
"The worst performing areas are Staffordshire Moorlands, with 33 per cent of employees on less than the living wage rate, Tamworth at 33 per cent and Wyre Forest at 32 per cent."
Birmingham-based Unity Trust Bank has been named regional Living Wage Champion Award Winner for its continued commitment to promoting the benefits of the living wage through its customer communications and speaking engagements at industry events.
Today's event was due to run from 8.30am to 10am.
