Workers average weekly earnings rose 4.6% between July and September compared to the same period last year, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows.
On average, employees received wages of €907.72 during the period, up from €876.63 during the third quarter of 2022.
Average weekly earnings increased across 12 out of 13 sectors examined by the CSO.
But average hourly earnings also registered a year-on-year increase over the three months, climbing by 6.2% to €27.82, from €26.19 in the same period a year ago.
The biggest annual percentage increase in average weekly earnings in the period, at 10.6%, was recorded in the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services sector.
The next largest rise was in public administration and defence, where average weekly earnings were up 7.7% to €1,098.50 on an annual basis.
“The sector with the highest average hourly total labour costs in Q3 2023 was the information and communication sector at €53.16,” said Louise Egan, Statistician in the Earnings Analysis Division.
“The lowest average total labour costs were in the accommodation and food service activities sector, which recorded a rate of €18.04.”
Across the public sector average weekly earnings grew 6.3% in the year to the end of September, rising from €1,058.98 to €1,125.92.
Gardai had the highest average weekly at €1,579.28 while the highest average hourly earnings were in education at €46.89.
The increases came during a time of sustained inflation in prices in Ireland and across the eurozone, as well as ongoing shortages of available talent in certain sectors.
According to the CSO, the job vacancy rate at the end of the third quarter stood at just 1.2%, less than the 1.3% of the previous quarter and the 1.6% at the end of the same three months in 2022.
The professional, scientific and technical activities sector had the highest job vacancy rate at 2.8%, followed by 2.6% in the public administration and defence sector.
On average, those in work were paid for 32.6 hours each week over the third quarter, down 1.5% from the 33.1 recorded during the comparable period in 2022.
Over the five years from the third quarter of 2018 to the same period this year, average paid hours decreased 0.6% from 32.8 to 32.6 hours.
But average hourly earnings rose by 23.0% from €22.62 to €27.82.
Article Source – Weekly earnings rose by 4.6% in third quarter – CSO – RTE