Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) collects information about employees in the UK. Employers receive a questionnaire which asks for particular employee details at a specified date in the year, including pay, hours of work, pension, job description and location.
ASHE results provide the most comprehensive source of information on the structure and distribution of earnings in the UK. Primary users of this information include the Department of Trade and Industry, Department for Work and Pensions and the Low Pay Commission. These organisations use the results to address issues such as low pay, tax, benefits and the effects of the national minimum wage.
The data also serve as a point of reference when determining the average earnings of different employee groups. This benchmark can be used, for example, by solicitors when calculating loss of earnings for their clients in cases before the courts.
