A poll carried out by financial services provider Unum found that 21 per cent of UK employees, or around 5.5 million people, do not have any back-ups such as cash savings or income protection insurance.
The research also showed that employees in Wales and the north-east are the most at risk, with 32 per cent and 24 per cent respectively having no financial protection in place.
In addition, the survey discovered that the average worker in the UK could only survive for four weeks without full pay if they lost their job or suffered some form of injury or illness.
Marco Forato, chief marketing officer at Unum, said: "It's really quite concerning to see that so many people are living on a knife edge when it comes to financial protection."
Recent research by Unum and manufacturers' organisation EEF claimed that 44 per cent of workers did not take a single day of sick leave during 2009.
The research also showed that employees in Wales and the north-east are the most at risk, with 32 per cent and 24 per cent respectively having no financial protection in place.
In addition, the survey discovered that the average worker in the UK could only survive for four weeks without full pay if they lost their job or suffered some form of injury or illness.
Marco Forato, chief marketing officer at Unum, said: "It's really quite concerning to see that so many people are living on a knife edge when it comes to financial protection."
Recent research by Unum and manufacturers' organisation EEF claimed that 44 per cent of workers did not take a single day of sick leave during 2009.
