The Prime Minister's Brexit speech will send "shockwaves" around factories and shopfloors across the country, according to the leader of the UK's biggest trade union.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said Theresa May's determination to "appease the hard right" in her party and Ukip by talking tough on immigration was putting millions of jobs in jeopardy.
He said the Prime Minister must not put party before country, adding: "Trade unions and others have clearly outlined how real concerns over the freedom of movement can be addressed by sensible labour market safeguards without abandoning the single market when we leave the EU.
Read more: Theresa May - Britain will leave single market when it quits EU
"Out of the single market, possibly out of the customs union, then investment in core sectors like car manufacturing, chemicals, aerospace, even food manufacturing, will be threatened as companies face hefty on-costs and serious disruption to their supply chains."
Mr McCluskey urged Mrs May to listen to the "anguish" of working class communities, not to add to it.
"The Prime Minister must pay less heed to the Brexit headbangers around the Cabinet table and more to the anxiety felt by working people who believe their jobs are being held hostage by the extreme nationalist wing of her Government."
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Signs that the UK will leave the single market are reducing confidence in the British economy and the falling pound looks likely to keep pushing up prices on everyday goods this year.
Read more: Theresa May - Britain will leave single market when it quits EU
"The Prime Minister's plan for Brexit today must make sure that wages keep rising, as well as protecting jobs and rights, so that working people don't pay the price for the decision to leave the EU."
Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "While businesses now have a clearer sense of the Prime Minister's top-line priorities, they will come away from her speech knowing little more about the likely outcome of the Brexit negotiations than they did yesterday.
"The simple fact is that businesses all across the UK are carrying on. Directly affected companies are being pragmatic, and are preparing for a range of possible outcomes."
Greenpeace UK's head of public affairs Rosie Rogers said: "Whatever position people take on Brexit, it's a fact that leaving the single market would undermine vital environmental and consumer protections we now take for granted.
"Many of the laws that keep our bathing water clean and control dangerous air pollution and toxic chemicals come from the EU.
"Without EU laws and courts to underpin and enforce them, they could be left at the mercy of ministers who may ignore them and scrap them with a stroke of the pen."
Read more: Theresa May - Britain will leave single market when it quits EU
Paul Everitt, chief executive of aerospace and defence trade body ADS, said: "The Prime Minister has provided important clarity ahead of the triggering of Article 50 and the start of formal Brexit negotiations.
"Securing the best deal for the UK and our EU partners will take time and it is essential that there are transitional arrangements in place to avoid disrupting closely integrated supply chains and damaging the UK's global competitiveness."
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