Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2018

Interactive table: StatBank link

Average weekly earnings increased 2.0% to €731.86 in Q4 2017. Average weekly earnings of the main economic sectors in Q4 2017 ranged from a high of €1,113.04 in the Information and communication sector to a low of €346.64 in the Accommodation and food service activities sector. The Information and communication sector experienced the largest annual increase to Q4 2017, rising 6.2% from €1,047.74 to €1,113.04. The Construction sector saw the only fall (-€0.24) in the year from Q4 2016 to Q4 2017, decreasing from €750.88 to €750.64. See graph above and table 19.1.

Interactive table: StatBank link

Average annual total earnings were €37,646 in 2017, up from €36,920 in 2016. This comprised of €34,620 regular earnings (92.0%), €2,011 irregular earnings (5.3%) and €1,016 overtime earnings (2.7%). 

Average annual total earnings vary widely across the economy with the highest averages in Information and communication at €56,757 and Financial, insurance and real estate at €55,634. In 2017, the Financial, insurance and real estate sector had the highest average regular earnings of €50,465 while the Information and communication sector had the highest average irregular earnings of €6,936.

The Industry sector recorded the highest average annual overtime earnings of €2,427 in 2017. The Accommodation and food services sector had average annual total earnings of €17,607, the lowest of the sectors. This comprised of €16,964 regular earnings, €216 overtime earnings and €428 irregular earnings.  

Average annual total earnings rose in 12 of the 13 economic sectors between 2016 and 2017. The largest percentage increase was 5.1% in the Administrative and support services sector where average annual earnings rose from €27,096 to €28,490. Average annual earnings in the Professional, scientific and technical sector rose by 3.7%, rising from €44,632 to €46,274. The only decrease was in the Arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities sector (-0.1%) where average annual earnings fell from €24,580 to €24,563 between 2016 and 2017.  See graph above and table 19.2.

Interactive table: StatBank link

Total annual labour costs in 2017 were €77.2 billion. Full-time employee regular earnings comprised €52.5 billion (or 68.1% of total labour costs) while part-time employee regular earnings were €8.2 billion (10.7% of the total). The other main components were €10.6 billion (13.8%) other labour costs, €3.6 billion (4.6%) irregular earnings, €1.8 billion (2.3%) overtime earnings and €0.4 billion (0.6%) apprentice/trainee earnings. See graph above and table 19.3.

Real and nominal average weekly earnings of industrial workers in the industry sector over the period 1938 to 2017 is illustrated in Figure 19.4 and the annual earnings growth of the average industrial wage is presented in Figure 19.5.

Real average industrial weekly earnings increased by 340% from 1938 to 2017, which equates to an average annual growth rate in earnings of 1.9% per annum over this 79-year period. The effects of economic cycles and major economic and historic events on average weekly earnings are identifiable in Figure 19.4 and 19.5. For example, the impact of World War 2 is evident with real average earnings falling each year from 1939 to 1943.

The effect of the 1973 oil crisis can be seen with nominal average earnings increasing by 25.1% in the year; and the impact of the 2008 recession can be identified with real average earnings falling by 3.2% and 4.2% in 2010 and 2011.

Over the almost 80-year period, there were 3 occasions where multi-annual falls occurred in real average weekly earnings of industrial workers in the industry sector. These include:

• 1939 to 1942 (World War II) when inflation outstripped the small increases in nominal earnings.
• 1980 to 1982 (start of the 1980s recession) when large increases in nominal earnings were negated by higher wage inflation.
• 2009 to 2011 (end of the Celtic Tiger and start of the Great Recession) when nominal pay cuts caused falls in real earnings.

Similarly, there were 3 periods where there were large multi-annual real earnings increases for industrial workers in the industry sector. These include:

• 1946 to 1948 (post World War II) where there were large nominal earnings increases.
• 1960s where an expanding Irish economy and increased Trade Union strength meant strong nominal and real earnings growth across the decade.
• 1970 to 1975 where a high inflation environment drove increases in nominal earnings and Trade Union strength endeavoured for real earnings growth.