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Impact of COVID-19 Income Supports on Employees, - Insights from Real Time Administrative Sources, Series 3

A CSO Frontier Series Output- What is this?

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Introduction

As a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland, large sections of the Irish economy were closed during parts of 2020 and 2021, particularly sectors which provided face-to-face services. These closures resulted in the payment of State supports for both employees and employers, including, for exampling the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS).

This Frontier Publication, “Impact of COVID-19 Income Supports on Employees, Insights from Real Time Administrative Data Sources, Series 3” is an update to the previous editions issued in December 2020 and May 2021. This updated publication contains additional analyses including both new cohorts and new categories. In previous releases cohorts were tracked across the reference quarter and the quarter 12 months previously, but in this update a matched sample is taken for all those present in quarter 3 of 2019, 2020 and 2021. The new categories included are:

  • No Supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 - this cohort could be considered to only have earnings.
  • No Supports in Q3 2021 and Supports in Q3 2020 - this cohort would have earnings in Q3 2021 and would have been on supports (PUP and or WSS) in Q3 2020.
  • Supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 - this cohort would have been on supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020.
  • Supports in Q3 2021 and No Supports in Q3 2020 - this cohort would have been on supports in Q3 2021 and have no supports in Q3 2020.

In addition, this updated publication includes not only the percentage change in earnings, but, to aid in the interpretation of the differences between the various cohorts, it also includes weekly earnings/income levels.

This report is part of the CSO series “Insights from Real Time Administrative Data Sources” which uses administrative data on employee earnings and COVID-19 support scheme payments from the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to provide insight and timely statistics to inform society and decision makers. As a CSO Frontier Series Publication, particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this experimental analysis.

Summary

At State level, for the cohort of individuals who were present in all three periods (Q3 2021, Q3 2020 and Q3 2019), the figures show that the proportion of persons who had:

  • No income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 was 66.7%
  • No income supports in Q3 2021 but who had income supports in Q3 2020 was 14.2%
  • Income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 was 15.6%
  • Income supports in Q3 2021 but no income supports in Q3 2020 was 3.6%.

In addition, for those who had no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020, the figures show that:

  • 67.6% of females had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 compared to 65.8% of males
  • 70.4% of persons aged 25 and over had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 compared to 45.5% for those aged under 25
  • 69.9% of persons residing in Tipperary had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 while 57.5% of persons in Kerry had no supports in the same periods.

Additional detail is presented in the report and the data included is also available from the CSO’s PxStat data service - here. Section 1 below provides a demographic analysis of the proportion of the sample that are in the various cohorts, Section 2 provides information on the median age of these cohorts by sex and county and Section 3 provides information on these cohort’s median weekly earnings/income. Finally, Section 4 examines those cohorts who had no supports in Q3 2021 or Q2 2020 and had no supports in Q3 2021 but did in Q3 2020 and also looks at the differences between those who changed employer and those who did not.

Results and Analysis

Section 1 - Proportions

At a State level, focusing on the cohort of individuals present in all three periods of Q3 (2021, 2020 and 2019) the following can be said;

  • Those who had no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 stood at 66.7%.
  • Those who had no income supports in Q3 2021 but did in Q3 2020 stood at 14.2%.
  • Those who had income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 stood at 15.6%.
  • Those who had income supports in Q3 2021 but had none in Q3 2020 stood at 3.6%.

Focusing across those who had no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 (age, sex and county) the following insights were seen;

  • Of females, 67.6% had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020, while it was 65.8% for males.
  • Of those aged 25 and over, 70.4% had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020, while it was only 45.5% for those aged Under 25.
  • Of those residing in Tipperary, 69.9% had no supports in Q3 2021 and Q3 2020, while it was only 57.5% for those residing in Kerry.

See Table 1.1, Figure 1.1 and 1.2 for further information.

X-axis labelSupports in Q321 and No Supports in Q320Supports in Q321 and Q320No Supports in Q321 and Supports in Q320No Supports in Q321 and Q320
All 3.615.614.266.7
Male414.615.565.8
Female3.116.612.867.6
Under 25 years825.720.745.5
25 years and over2.813.81370.4
X-axis labelSupports in Q321 and No Supports in Q320Supports in Q321 and Q320No Supports in Q321 and Supports in Q320No Supports in Q321 and Q320
Tipperary3.312.414.469.9
Cork3.413.213.769.7
Roscommon3.212.614.669.6
Offaly3.312.715.468.6
Kildare3.213.715.168
Laois3.413.71567.9
Kilkenny3.114.314.867.8
Longford3.112.816.367.7
Leitrim3.414.314.967.4
Limerick3.714.914.167.3
Dublin3.316.712.767.2
Sligo3.515.214.467
Galway3.615.514.366.6
Cavan3.113.716.566.6
Westmeath3.714.116.166.2
Waterford3.714.415.666.2
Meath3.815.714.765.8
Mayo4.116.613.865.5
Wicklow3.916.414.365.4
Louth415.815.464.8
Clare4.517.713.963.9
Carlow3.213.420.463
Donegal3.919.713.563
Wexford4.116.217.162.6
Monaghan3.314.920.161.7
Kerry6.122.41457.5
Table 1.1 Proportion of individuals in receipt/not in receipt of income supports, by demographic, Q3 2021

Section 2 - Median Age

Examining the median age of the cohorts, at a state level, the following can be said.

  • The median age of those who had no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 was 40.
  • The median age of those who had no income supports in Q3 2021 but did in Q3 2020 was 36.
  • The median age of those who had income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 was 35.
  • The median age of those who had income supports in Q3 2021 but had none in Q3 2020 was 32.

Across counties, those who received no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 had the highest median age. The oldest was 42, seen in Clare, Leitrim, and Sligo, while the youngest was in Dublin where it was 39.

See Table 1.2, Figure 1.3, and Map 1.1 for further information.

X-axis labelNo Supports in Q321 and Q320No Supports in Q321 and Supports in Q320Supports in Q321 and Q320Supports in Q321 and No Supports in Q320
All 40363532
Male40363534
Female40363529
Under 25 years21212019
25 years and over42404040
Map 1.1 Median age of individuals not in support of income receipts in Q321 and Q320, by county, Q3 2021
Table 1.2 Median age of individuals in receipt not/in receipt of income supports, by demographic, Q3 2021

Section 3 - Median Earnings/Income

Examining the changes in median income (earnings and or income supports (PUP and/ or TWSS/EWSS) were relevant) the following can be said.

  • The median income for those who had no income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020, stood at €755 in Q3 2019, €798 in Q3 2020 and €854 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 13.1% between Q3 2019 vs Q3 2021 and an increase of 7.0% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021.
  • The median income for those who had no income supports in Q3 2021 but did in Q3 2020, stood at €498 in Q3 2019, €467 in Q3 2020 and €581 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 16.7% between Q3 2019 vs Q3 2021 and an increase of 24.4% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021.
  • The median income for those who had income supports in both Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 stood at €413 in Q3 2019, €367 in Q3 2020 and €410 in Q3 2021. This was a decrease of 0.7% between Q3 2019 vs Q3 2021 and an increase of 11.7% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021.
  • The median income for those who had income supports in Q3 2021 but had none in Q3 2020 stood at €450 in Q3 2019, €470 in Q3 2020 and €440 in Q3 2021. This was a decrease of 2.2% between Q3 2019 vs Q3 2021 and a decrease of 6.4% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021.

Comparing median income in Q3 2019 and Q3 2021 for those who received supports in both Q3 2020 and Q3 2021, across different segments (sex, age, county), the following was seen.

  • For males, median income was down 2.6% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€493 vs €480).
  • For females, median income was up 2.5% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€355 vs €364).
  • For those aged Under 25, median income was up 18.2% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€296 vs €350).
  • For those aged 25 and over, median income was down 4.7% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€466 vs €444).
  • For those residing in Dublin, median income was down 5.8% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€452 vs €426).
  • For those residing in Sligo, median income was up 8.6% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (€359 vs €390).

See Table 1.3, 1.4 and Figure 1.3 for more information.

 

X-axis labelIncome Q3 2019Income Q3 2020Income Q3 2021
No Supports in Q321 and Q320755798854
No Supports in Q321 and supports in Q320498467581
Supports in Q321 and Q320413367410
Supports in Q321 and no supports Q320450470440
Table 1.3 Median Earnings and/or Income Supports of individuals, by support recipients/non-recipients, by demographic and cohort, Q3 2021

Table 1.4 Median Earnings and/or Income Supports of individuals, by support recipients/non-recipients, by demographic and cohort, Q3 2021

Section 4 - Same Employer or Different Employer?

The final section of this publication examined only the cohort who had no supports in either Q3 2021 or Q3 2020 and those who had no supports in Q3 2021 but did in Q3 2020 and examined whether they stayed with their same employer or moved to a different one.

For clarity the following steps are taken for ease of interpretation. Only those with a recorded employment in both quarters are taken. Those who had multiple different employments within a quarter are excluded. Note also that an individual could potentially have a different employment in Q3 2019, therefore comparing the percentage change in Q3 2019 vs Q3 2021 may be affected by compositional impacts.

  • The median income for those who had no income supports in Q3 2021 or Q3 2020 and didn’t change employer stood at €778 in Q3 2019, €821 in Q3 2020 and €873 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 6.3% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021. The median age of this cohort stood at 41 in Q3 2021.
  • The median income for those who had no income supports in Q3 2021 or Q3 2020 and did change employer stood at €596 in Q3 2019, €632 in Q3 2020 and €712 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 12.7% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021. The median age of this cohort stood at 32 in Q3 2021.
  • The median income for those who had income supports in Q3 2020 but no longer had in Q3 2021 and didn’t change employer stood at €547 in Q3 2019, €519 in Q3 2020 and €610 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 17.5% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021. The median age of this cohort stood at 39 in Q3 2021.
  • For those that did change employer, median income stood at €457 in Q3 2019, €428 in Q3 2020 and €567 in Q3 2021. This was an increase of 32.5% between Q3 2020 vs Q3 2021. The median age of this cohort stood at 29 in Q3 2021

Across different segments (sex and age), comparing median income in Q3 2020 and Q3 2021 for those who received supports in Q3 2020 and no longer did in Q3 2021, between those who remained with their same employer and those who did not, the following can be said.

  • For males, who didn’t change employer, median income was up 17.9% from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021 (€576 vs €679). For those who did change employer, median income was up 31.5% over the same period (€476 vs €626).
  • For females, who didn’t change employer, median income was up 15.2% from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021 (€435 vs €501). For those who did change employer, median income was up 32.6% over the same period (€383 vs €508).
  • For those aged Under 25, who didn’t change employer, median income was up 19.4% from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021 (€396 vs €473). For those who did change employer, median income was up 37.9% over the same period (€348 vs €480).
  • For those aged 25 and over, who didn’t change employer, median income was up 17.4% from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021 (€541 vs €635). For those 25 and over, who did change employer median income was  up 28.5% from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021 (€494 vs €635).

See Figure 1.6, 1.7 and Table 5.1 for more information 

X-axis labelIncome Q3 2019Income Q3 2020Income Q3 2021
No Supports in Q321 and Q320-Same Employer778821873
No Supports in Q321 and Q320-Different Employer596632712
No Supports in Q321 and supports in Q320-Same Employer548519610
No Supports in Q321 and supports in Q320-Different Employer457428567
X-axis labelMedian Age
No Supports in Q321 and Q320-Same Employer41
No Supports in Q321 and Q320-Different Employer32
No Supports in Q321 and supports in Q320-Same Employer39
No Supports in Q321 and supports in Q320-Different Employer29
Table 1.5 Median Earnings and/or Income Supports of individuals, by support recipients/non-recipients, by demographic and cohort, Q3 2021