WORKERS in the North West take home a smaller wage packet than colleagues in the country as a whole, according to the latest research.

The study showed the average weekly wage for a man in the region is £415, compared to £442 nationally. North West women fare even worse. Their average weekly wage is £299 against a UK average of £326.

It also showed North West workers' annual productivity per head is around £11,000, around £1,500 less than the UK average.

The pay and productivity gap was highlighted in the 2001 edition of North West plc, an economic guide to the region sponsored by accountants and business advisers KPMG.

The research also found:

Disposable income per head for the North West in 1997, the year latest figures were available, was £8,750 compared to a national average of £9,500.

The largest percentage of the North West male workforce (11.4 per cent) earned between £461 and £540 a week in 1999. Only 5.2 per cent were paid more than £800 (7.1 per cent UK average).

The largest group of women workers (15.8 per cent) earned between £251 and £300 per week while only 5.8 per cent received more than £540.

Distribution, hotels and catering and other services is the biggest industrial/commercial sector in the North West accounting for 34 per cent of the regional economy. metal goods, engineering and vehicles, and other manufacturing, made up 27 per cent.

Peter Brown, KPMG senior partner in the North West, said: "While no-one should under-estimate the challenges facing the North West in coming years there are firm grounds for optimism.

"North West companies stand to make significant gains from the current upturn in the UK economy and strengthening activity in Europe.

As a region, we must continue to invest in training and technology so that we continue to develop strong businesses led by people with vision, drive and commitment."