The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions applied in response to it had a significant impact on the labour market in 2020 and 2021. Earnings statistics for those years and comparisons with earlier years are impacted by changes in the composition of the labour market across 2020 and 2021 and when compared to 2019 and earlier years. The level of earnings has also been impacted by the COVID-19 income support schemes in place in 2020 and 2021.
The age group with the highest median weekly earnings in 2021 was 40-49 years at €783.01 which was a rise of 3.4% from €757.58 in 2020, followed by the 30-39 years at €739.11 in 2021. The lowest median weekly earnings was the 15-24 years age group at €333.67 in 2021.
Males and females in the 40-49 years age group both had the highest median weekly earnings at €877.25 and €688.10 respectively, with the median for males in that category 27.5% higher than for females.
The 50-59 years bracket for males saw the next highest median weekly earnings at €846.80 while the next highest median earnings for females was €676.96 in 30-39 years age group.
The 40-49 years age cohort also recorded the highest overall mean weekly earnings at €1,003.65 in 2021, a 3.6% increase on 2020's figure of €968.45, followed by the 50-59 at €961.00. The 15-24 years age group recorded the lowest mean weekly earnings in 2021 at €372.13.
Males in the 40-49 years category recorded the highest mean weekly earnings at €1,148.97 in 2021, marginally higher than 50-59 years at €1,141.84. Females in the 40-49 years age group recorded the highest mean weekly earnings at €855.96 which was 7.4% higher than the next highest age group, 30-39 years, at €796.76. See Tables 5.1 and 5.2.
| X-axis label | Male | Female | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 - 24 | 371.17 | 299.84 | 333.67 |
| 25 - 29 | 637.8 | 590.8 | 616.63 |
| 30 - 39 | 787.88 | 676.96 | 739.11 |
| 40 - 49 | 877.25 | 688.1 | 783.01 |
| 50 - 59 | 846.8 | 621.13 | 734.19 |
| 60 and over | 667.54 | 483.92 | 577.49 |
| Total | 711.87 | 570.22 | 644.55 |
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