THE casual economy is on the increase in Lancashire according to figures out today.

Statistics show that the number of part time workers in the county has risen by 18,000 to 159,000 in the last six years.

During the same period the number of people in full time work has fallen by 9,000 to 478,000. The GMB union, which compiled the statistics, said that part time workers were often poorly paid and that help for businesses was needed to create more full time well paid posts.

"These figures show that there has been an increasing casualisation of the workforce and the drift from manufacturing to service based jobs," said John Edmonds, general secretary.

"The Government will help by introducing the miunumum wage next month."

But he said more neded to be done to support business development and the growth of high quality jobs.

The North West as a whole saw a two per cent rise in the number of part time workers to 692,000.

The number in full time work fell by 1.8 per cent to 2,120,000.

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