The number of people working paid overtime has fallen by almost half a million in the last year, making them the "hidden victims" of the recession, new research shows.

The TUC said an analysis of official data revealed that just under four million people earned paid overtime this year, at an average of six and a half hours a week, a fall of 12 minutes over 2008.

The report said that the average amount of weekly overtime worked out at almost £3,000 a year per employee, a total of £10 billion, down by £1 billion on last year.

The decline in paid overtime was partly caused by job losses and fewer opportunities to earn extra money.

Workers in manufacturing, transport and communication, industries that traditionally offered overtime, were hit by a sharp fall in extra hours over the past year.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Lots of people rely on overtime pay to earn a decent living. As Christmas approaches, a lack of extra income will put family budgets under even greater strain."

30 November 2009