IRISH WORKERS’ PAY packets shrunk last year with the average employee earning nearly €250 less than they got in 2012.
Incomes remain well down on their pre-crash levels and the latest numbers reverse the slight rise in earnings recorded between 2011 and 2012.
The average Irish employee’s earnings last year fell 0.7% to €35,830 from €36,079 the previous year, according to Central Statistics Office figures released today.
It follows an increase of €174 between 2011 and 2012, breaking a run of falling earnings for several years from an average of €37,726 per person in 2007.
IT and retailers do well
But the figures also revealed big variations in the pay prospects for different sectors.
Over the past four years, average earnings for workers in the best-performed sector, information and communication, went up 10% – compared to a drop of 9.7% in the hardest-hit industry, human health and social work.
Employees in wholesale and retail trade, and finance, insurance and real estate also did better than most as both sectors scored earnings growth of over 4% between 2009 and 2013.
Workers in accommodation and food services had an 8.6% fall in earnings, while the education sector experienced a 7.9% drop over the four years.
Full-time, part-time and apprentice workers are included in the figures.
READ: Public sector average wages are €300 per week higher than private sector
READ: Here’s how many Irish people get the minimum wage
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