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Earnings and Labour Costs release Q1 2011

 

Summary of headline results - Q1 2011

Quarter
Average Hourly Earnings
Average Weekly Hours
Average Weekly Earnings
 
hours
Q1 2010*
22.11
30.9
683.43
Q4 2010*
22.00
31.8
699.94
Q1 2011*
22.08
30.6
674.56
Quarterly change %             +0.4
 -3.8
    -3.6
Annual change %              -0.1
 -1.0
    -1.3

* Preliminary estimates

 

Slight drop in hourly earnings in the year to Q1 2011

  • Average hourly earnings fell from €22.11 per hour in Q1 2010 to €22.08 in Q1 2011 representing a decrease of 0.1% over the year. This compares with a revised estimated decrease of 1.7% in the year to Q4 2010 and a decrease of 1.5% in the year to Q1 2010.
  • Across the economic sectors average hourly earnings fell in 7 of the 13 sectors with the largest decreases in the Professional, scientific and technical (-10.0%) and Construction (-8.5%) sectors. The largest sectoral increase was recorded in Information and communication (+8.4%).
  • Average hourly earnings in both the public and private sectors showed similar reductions over the year (-0.6% and -0.5% respectively). This is the first annual comparison which is no longer influenced by the public sector pay rate reductions introduced in early 2010.


Annual falls in paid hours and weekly earnings

  • Average weekly paid hours fell to 30.6 in Q1 2011, a slight fall of 0.3 hours or 1.0% over the year.
  • Average weekly earnings fell to €674.56 in Q1 2011, down from €683.43 a year earlier. This decrease of 1.3% over the year compares with a decrease of 2.5% in the year to Q4 2010. Average weekly earnings have now fallen by €34.99 over the past two years.

Temporary Census field staff increase public sector employment in Q1 2011

  • The overall number of employees fell by 46,700 (-3.0%) in the year to Q1 2011.
  • A decrease of 48,200 (-4.2%) was recorded in private sector employment over the twelve month period, while public sector employment was up 1,500 (+0.4%). There were 5,200 additional temporary Census field staff employed in Q1 2011, and excluding these public sector employment fell by 3,700 (-0.9%) to 400,000.

 

For further information contact

Majella Lysaght 021 453 5513,

Margaret O'Mahony 021 453 5216 or

Brendan Curtin 021 453 5577

Fax: 021 453 5492

Email: earnings@cso.ie

 

Central Statistics Office                                                                           16 June 2011

 

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