Earnings And Labour Costs Release Q4 2010

Earnings and Labour Costs release Q4 2010

Summary of headline results - Q4 2010

* Preliminary estimates

Hourly earnings down by 1.9% in year to Q4 2010

Average hourly earnings fell from €22.38 per hour in Q4 2009 to €21.96 in Q4 2010 representing a decrease of 1.9% over the year. This compares with a revised estimated decrease of 1.9% in the year to Q3 2010 and an increase of 0.9% in the year to Q4 2009.

Average hourly earnings for the year 2010 were 1.6% lower than in 2009. This follows a 2.5% increase recorded between 2008 and 2009.

Across the economic sectors average hourly earnings fell in 9 of the 13 sectors with the largest decreases in the Human health and social work (-6.7%) and Public administration and defence (-6.1%).

Average hourly earnings in the public sector fell by 4.9% compared with the marginal fall of 0.3% in the private sector.

Paid hours per week fall by 0.9% annually

Average weekly paid hours fell to 31.8 in Q4 2010, a slight fall of 0.3 hours or 0.9% over the year.

Weekly earnings down by 2.5% in year to Q4 2010

Average weekly earnings fell to €699.46 in Q4 2010, down from €717.73 a year earlier. This decrease of 2.5% over the year compares with a revised estimated decrease of 1.5% in the year to Q3 2010 and a decrease of 0.4% in the year to Q4 2009.

Employment decreases in both private and public sectors in year to Q4 2010

The overall number of employees fell by 39,700 (-2.5%) in the year to Q4 2010. A decrease of 35,900 (-3.1%) was recorded in private sector employment over the twelve month period, while public sector employment was down 3,800 (-0.9%).

For further information contact

Majella Lysaght 021 453 5513,

Margaret O'Mahony 021 453 5216 or

Brendan Curtin 021 453 5577

Email: earnings@cso.ie

Central Statistics Office                                                                           15 March 2011

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