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
- ENDS -
