Business in Ireland 2025 - Labour Market and Social Sustainability

Employee earnings are a crucial element of enterprise sustainability. While rising labour costs can create financial pressure on enterprises, paying higher wages could benefit enterprises in attracting and retaining staff, potentially leading to lower turnover costs and higher productivity and innovation.

In this chapter we will see:

• Median weekly earnings for all sectors (NACE B-S) increased by 22.1% between 2019 (€598.36) and 2024 (€730.89) with earnings in the Information & Communication sector increasing by 40.7% over that period.
• The Information & Communication sector recorded the highest median weekly earnings in 2024 at €1,440.36, almost double the median for all sectors (€730.89). In contrast, the lowest median weekly earnings were recorded in the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector at €391.62.
• While Irish-owned enterprises accounted for almost three-quarters (74.9%) of employees in 2023, they accounted for just under two-thirds (65.2%) of total employee earnings.
• US-owned enterprises accounted for 9.0% of employments in NACE sectors B-S but around 17.1% of total employee earnings in 2023. US-owned enterprises accounted for nearly 60% of total employee earnings recorded in the Information & Communication sector (59.1%) and almost one quarter of earnings in the Financial, Insurance & Real Estate Activities sector (24.1%).

Median weekly earnings for all sectors increased by 22.1% between 2019 and 2024

Data on median earnings is reported in the CSO, Earnings Analysis using Administrative Data Sources releases.

In 2024, median weekly earnings were €730.89, an increase of 4.5% from €699.28 in 2023.

The Information & Communication sector recorded the highest median weekly earnings in 2024 at €1,440.36, almost double the median for all sectors. In contrast, the lowest median weekly earnings were recorded in the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector at €391.62.

Between 2019 and 2024 median weekly earnings for all sectors increased by 22.1%, with earnings in the Information & Communication sector increasing by 40.7% over that period. See Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1.

Irish-owned enterprises accounted for almost two thirds (65.2%) of total employee earnings in 2023

Data on ownership of enterprises is reported in the CSO, Proportion of Employments and Earnings by Irish and Foreign Owned Enterprises releases.

Employments in Irish-owned enterprises accounted for almost three-quarters (74.9%) of total employees in 2023 and accounted for the largest proportion (65.2%) of total employee earnings recorded.

US-owned enterprises accounted for 9.0% of employments in NACE sectors B-S but around 17.1% of total employee earnings in 2023. US-owned enterprises accounted for nearly 60% of total employee earnings recorded in the Information & Communication sector (59.1%) and almost one quarter of earnings in the Financial, Insurance & Real Estate Activities sector (24.1%). See Figure 3.2.

Note: References to employees in this release mainly relate to employments (employees only, not self-employed) in NACE sectors B-S. Some individuals may have more than one employment, and secondary employments earning at least €4,000 per annum are included in the analysis. See background notes for more details.

Looking at NACE sectors B-N, employments in Irish-owned enterprises accounted for almost two-thirds (65.0%) of total employees in 2023 and accounted 50.7% of total employee earnings recorded in those sectors.

US-owned enterprises accounted for 12.9% of employments in NACE sectors B-N but around 24.7% of total employee earnings in those sectors in 2023. See Table 3.2 and Table 3.3.