The Earnings Background of Probationers 2014 - 2020

Earnings estimate

The earnings estimate for the following statistics are calculated using the individual’s gross earnings data that is paid by an employer (before deduction of tax, PRSI and superannuation).

The tables present median earnings statistics and are based on administrative data sources. The primary data source is the Revenue Commissioner’s employee tax data. To compare the earnings data for probationers with existing population estimates for earnings as employees, the following exclusions have been applied:

• Earnings less than €500 as an employee during a tax reference year
• Earners who worked for less than 2 reference weeks during the tax reference year or who had extremely high earnings (greater than €15,000 per week)
• Secondary employments less than €4,000 per annum
• Employment activity in economic sectors of the economy that correspond to Agriculture, household employment and extraterritorial bodies (Sectors A, T and U) have also been excluded from the analysis to keep a consistent comparison with existing earnings publication methodology

Further details of the methodology can be found in the Background Notes of this publication and in the CSO’s current publication using equivalent earnings estimates, Earnings Analyis using Administrative Data Sources.

Employed probationers earned over a quarter less than the weekly earnings of those in employment

The median weekly earnings from employment of individuals who received probation orders in 2017 ranged from €346 in 2014 to €471 by 2020. By comparison, median weekly earnings from employment for the total employed population over the same period ranged from €513 in 2014 to €589 in 2020. Overall, over the 7 years examined, probationers earned around 72% of the overall earnings of the equivalent employed population. See Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1.

Young probationers earn more than the equivalent earnings for all employees, but older probationers earn less

The median weekly earnings of probationers increase with age in a similar way to the total employed population. In 2020, probationers aged under 21 earned €316 per week compared to €521 for probationers aged 41-50. The data also indicates that the earnings of young probationers can be higher than the median weekly earnings for the employed population. In 2020, the median weekly earnings for the overall population of employees under 21 was €263, €53 euro less than the equivalent estimate for probationers. See Table 2.1 and 2.2.

Female probationers earn less than male probationers, with the earnings gap at a third less for 2020

Females make up a small proportion of the individuals who received probation orders in 2017 (about 10% of total probationers). The data shows they received less earnings from employment than male probationers. The difference between male and female earnings has also widened over time. In 2014 female probationers’ median weekly earnings (€291) was 83% of males’ earnings (€351). In 2020, three years after probation supervision female earnings (€309) were just under two thirds (64%) of the male equivalent (€484). See Figure 2.3 and Table 2.4.

Probation re-offenders have lower weekly earnings than those who didn’t re-offend

Individuals linked with a re-offending conviction that took place within 3 years of receiving their probation orders in 2017 tended to have lower weekly earnings from employment than individuals who did not re-offend. In 2018, one year following their probation supervision, non re-offenders earned €418 a week from employment while individuals linked to re-offending earned €387 a week. See Figure 2.4 and Table 2.5.

The Construction sector provided the highest level of employment for probationers

Over the period 2014-2020, the Construction sector provided the highest level of employment for individuals who received probation orders in 2017, at around one-in-six of probationers. In contrast most employment for the overall working population were linked with enterprises working in the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector (16%) while just 5% of the overall working population were employed in enterprises based in the Construction sector. See Figure 2.5, Tables 2.6 and 2.7.

Probationers earned a comparable wage to all employees in the Accommodation & Food Service sector but in the Education sector the earnings were far less

The median weekly earnings of probationers linked to working in the Accommodation & Food Services sector was €319 in 2020. This compared closely to all employee’s equivalent of €329 per week also during 2020. In contrast, and although the proportion of probationers working in the sector was low (2% of probationers who were employees in 2020), those linked to employment in the Education sector earned €260 per week in 2020. This compared to median weekly earnings of €764 for all employments in Education. In the Construction sector, where probationers are most likely to be employed, the median weekly pay was €606 for probationers compared with €634 for all employees during 2020. See Tables 2.8 and 2.9.