The research looks at wages paid at the end of 2009 and gives a summary of earnings by class, shift, location and company sizes and product sector. However, the dramatic decrease in shopfloor take home pay was revealed when the body compared the 2009 findings with those of 2008.

It found that year-on-year take hope pay had in effect dropped by 11.5% because of a "dramatic reduction in overtime hours and decrease in shift payments".

Kyle Jardine, the BPIF's research and information manager, said that the figure was a "significant reduction", but added that one of the key issues drawn out by the report was the increase in workers' flexibility. He highlighted that the report indicated that many companies had managed to change their shift patterns in the face of the recession, something that historically was very difficult to do.

According to Jardine: "The way that some companies have been able to manage the wage bill in 2009 compared with 2008 has changed somewhat.

"There has been a reduction in the average wage, which suggests that some companies have frozen or reduced wages, but this increased [employee] flexibility... is quite a big issue."

The BPIF's Manpower report is supported by RSM Tenon and Meridan Financial. It is available free-of-charge to BPIF responding members, or £250 for non-participating members, and £500 for non-members.