The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions applied in response to it had a significant impact on the labour market between 2020 and 2022. Earnings statistics for those years and comparisons with earlier years are impacted by changes in the composition of the labour market during this period and when compared with 2019 and earlier years. The level of earnings has also been impacted by the COVID-19 income support schemes in place since 2020.
The age group with the highest median weekly earnings in 2022 was the 40-49 years age group at €819.75, an increase of 4.7% from €783.01 in 2021, followed by the 30-39 years age group at €772.63 in 2022. The lowest median weekly earnings were recorded for the 15-24 years age group at €339.28 in 2022.
Both males and females in the 40-49 years age group had the highest median weekly earnings at €920.62 and €715.59 respectively, with the median for males in that category 28.7% higher than for females. Males in the 50-59 years age bracket recorded the next highest median weekly earnings at €885.75, while the next highest median earnings for females was €706.88 in the 30-39 years age group.
The 40-49 years age cohort also recorded the highest overall mean weekly earnings at €1,050.56 in 2022, a 4.7% increase on the equivalent figure in 2021 of €1,003.65, followed by those aged 50-59 at €1,012.87. The 15-24 years age group recorded the lowest mean weekly earnings in 2022 at €380.75.
Males in the 50-59 years age category recorded the highest mean weekly earnings at €1,207.04 in 2022, marginally higher than the 40-49 years age group at €1,205.23. Females in the 40-49 years age group recorded the highest mean weekly earnings at €896.32 which was 7.7% higher than the next highest age group, 30-39 years, at €832.26 (See Tables 5.1 and 5.2).
| X-axis label | Male | Female | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 - 24 | 378.2 | 300.28 | 339.28 |
| 25 - 29 | 668.2 | 615.38 | 644.05 |
| 30 - 39 | 827.88 | 706.88 | 772.63 |
| 40 - 49 | 920.62 | 715.59 | 819.75 |
| 50 - 59 | 885.75 | 648.35 | 767.42 |
| 60 and over | 689.53 | 496.15 | 594.87 |
| Total | 741.86 | 592.92 | 670.9 |
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