PAY packets for the average Worcestershire worker are nearly £1,000 under-par - with council chiefs saying the county's economy must "catch up".

Your Worcester News can reveal how research published by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has highlighted concerns Worcestershire is playing second fiddle to regional neighbours.

The average yearly salary in the county of £23,077 is £943 lower than the £24,920 regional West Midlands salary and the national one of £27,487.

And despite skill levels being broadly in line with the rest of the country and Worcestershire's economy being the third fastest growing in the UK from 2008 to 2013, there is still a productivity gap with similar counties.

The average county worker produces £45,967 of yearly economic activity, known as Gross Value Added, 19 per cent below their counterparts in Oxfordshire and seven per cent behind Warwickshire.

The findings, gleaned from 2013 statistical data, are being put down to both rival counties having more big name employers like BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Williams F1.

Council chiefs say the findings highlight the need more than ever to make sure larger employers are tempted into the county - particularly around the Worcester Six technology park due to open in 2017.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, county council deputy leader and cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "As a county council we made 'open for business' one of our top priorities at a time when the economy was challenged.

"We've been growing from a position where we had to grow rapidly to catch up - if you look at the GVA of areas like Warwickshire and Gloucestershire they still have higher rates of GVA which shows this is a long-term project.

"The issue for us is making sure we get the right jobs and the right employers onto our key sites - that's the challenge, getting the quality employers in."

He added: "Worcestershire has traditionally under-performed, that's my view - so the plan is about trying to shift us in that league.

"It's great that we've got the third fastest growing economy but sustaining that so we can match or even overtake other areas is the challenge."

As your Worcester News revealed last week Mark Stansfield, who chairs the LEP, says a huge marketing push is being prepared to promote the Worcester Six tech park, based off Junction 6 of the M5.