National Employment Survey 2007
The National Employment Survey is a major workplace and earnings survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office and the results for 2007 have been published today. The survey provides detailed comparisons on the factors that influence individual employee earnings. The results have been compiled on the basis of earnings data provided by employers and individual data collected directly by the CSO from a sub-sample of employees. The CSO wishes to thank the employers and employees who provided information for the survey.
The results show that:
- Employees earned an average of €20.08 per hour in October 2007. Men earned €21.17 per hour and women earned €18.91 per hour (89.3% of male hourly earnings).
- Half of all employees earned less than €16.29 per hour (i.e. the median hourly earnings figure).
- Average hourly earnings for full-time workers were €21.17 while part-time workers received an average of €15.40 per hour.
- The average working week was 34.4 hours. Men worked an average of 38.0 hours and women 30.7 hours per week.
- Public sector average hourly earnings were 47.6% higher that the private sector in October 2007. Average earnings per hour in the public sector were €26.67 compared to €18.07 per hour in the private sector. Nearly a quarter (24.5%) of private sector employees consisted of Sales and Other occupations (mainly manual labour) compared with only 8.1% of employees in the public sector.
- A profile of educational qualifications in the public and private sectors shows over half (52.8%) of all public sector employees had third-level qualifications, compared with 31.9% in the private sector.
- Public sector workers have spent an average of 11.6 years in their current employment while in the private sector employees have spent an average of 8.2 years in their current employment.
- The average employee has been working for just over 15.1 years and has spent about 9.0 years in his/her current employment.
- Average earnings per hour were highest in the Education sector at €33.23 per hour followed by the Electricity, gas and water supply sector at €30.96. The lowest average hourly earnings were in the Hotels and restaurants sector, at €12.93 per hour.
- Professional employees earned the highest hourly earnings of €33.61 while Sales workers had the lowest earnings at €14.08 per hour.
- Educational qualifications had a strong influence on earnings potential as employees who had a third level degree or higher tended to have higher earnings than other employees and this difference increased with age. Employees aged under 25 years with a third level degree or higher qualification earned €17.57 per hour compared to those with a higher secondary (Leaving Certificate) qualification who earned €12.31 per hour. This gap had widened to €42.21 and €20.97 respectively for employees aged 50 to 60 years.
- Employees living in Dublin earned €22.03 per hour compared with €1 - €3 less for those living in the Rest of Leinster, Munster and Connaught (€20.29, €19.07 and €18.83 respectively). Employees in Ulster (including those living in Northern Ireland and working in the Republic of Ireland) earned €17.59 per hour.
- Average annual earnings were €37,726 in 2007, this figure was composed of €35,607 basic earnings and €2,120 annual bonuses and BIK (Benefit in Kind). Earnings were highest in the Electricity, gas and water supply sector at €71,572 and lowest in the Hotels and restaurants sector at €23,505.
- A comparison of NES results show that earnings per hour rose from €19.16 in October 2006 to €20.08 in October 2007. Hours per week fell slightly from 34.8 hours per week in October 2006 to 34.4 hours in October 2007.
- More analysis of the NES data will be carried out in July 2009 and published thereafter. This analysis will further examine the differences in earnings.
National Employment 2007 is priced at €10.00 and is available from:
The Central Statistics Office, Information Section, Skehard Road, Cork.
The Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2.
For further information contact:
Paul M Crowley, Senior Statistician (021-453 5090) or
Gerard Doolan, Statistician (021-453 5130)
LoCall: 1890 313 414
Internet www.cso.ie
Email: nes@cso.ie
10 July 2009
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