Bassetlaw workers earning the UK economy £25 an hour

It means the area's workforce is less productive than the average across the country.

A leading policy thinktank said the ‘productivity output gap’ is one of the biggest challenges facing the British economy.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show Bassetlaw had a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £25.03 per hour worked in 2018.

It was an increase of one per cent on 2017, and means the area is below the UK average of £35.03 per hour.

GVA is the final value of the goods and services produced in an area and is used to measure contribution to the national economy.

The East Midlands as a whole has an average GVA of £30.

Paul Swinney, director of policy and research at urban policy research unit Centre for Cities, said: “The productivity output gap between northern and southern cities is one of the biggest challenges facing the British economy.

“Addressing this disparity should be central to the Government’s levelling up agenda.

“Transport investment within big cities will be important, and so will spending on adult education to upskill the workforce.”

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “This Government remains committed to the Northern Powerhouse and levelling up growth to drive productivity, empower communities and rebalance opportunity.”