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IRISH WAGES ARE still decreasing despite the economic recovery the country is currently experiencing.
The average national wage in 2014 fell to €35,768, a decrease of 0.2% from 2013, according to the latest release from the CSO.
However, while the figures are lower the rate of decrease is definitely slowing also (it was 0.7% in 2013) suggesting the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.
Similarly, not all industries are doing badly, with several definitely on the up from the point of view of average wages.
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5 of the 13 sectors accounted for have seen an increase in average annual wages, with the Construction industry seeing the greatest increase – up to €37,884 from €36,230.
The greatest decreases seen were in the Education and Arts / Recreation sectors, falling by 2.9% from €42,554 to €41,332 and €25,158 to €24,438 respectively.
Labour costs meanwhile were up 2.7% in 2014 to €66.6 billion. They remain a deal shy of their high water mark in 2009 of €68.9 billion.
The greatest labour costs at present are being seen in the Industry sector, with 16.1% of the country’s total costs in 2014.
Unsurprisingly, Construction has seen the greatest fall in such costs since the height of the recession.
Reacting to the CSO release, Mark Fielding, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association (ISME), drew attention to the respective plights of public sector workers and the self-employed and called for the establishment of an Independent Commission to examine public sector pay and recommend changes:
“The pay increases awarded in the new Lansdowne Road Agreement make no sense economically.”
It was merely a vote garnering exercise by a government who should really have known better. The public sector is paid far more than their private sector counterparts and excuses about differing education levels etc. simply do not wash.
Sinn Féin meanwhile said that the fall in average earnings is evidence that “Fine Gael and Labour are failing to deliver a fair recovery”.
“Time and again Fine Gael and Labour claim that the recovery is ‘all about jobs’, yet what we see from the CSOs figures is that people are working harder for less with a fall in average earnings in 2014,” said the party’s employment spokesperson Peadar Tóibín.
In fact average earnings are less now than they were when government entered office in 2011.
“This is one of the factors behind the crisis in our health system and the challenges facing the education sector,” Tóibín added.
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The west is too weak on border security. If you entered illegally you should be sent home within days.
@Brian Boru: Maybe if the west stayed out of other countries and refrained from stirring up coups, then there would be less turmoil, resulting in more stability, which in turn would mean less people on the move.
Some might say, if America refrained from stirring up coups in SA, said continent would be rife with communist tinpot dictatorships. For example when Cuba fell to Castro’s communist regime, it almost started WW3 via Russia wishing to install nukes there, but it also initiated an exodus of people from Cuba to the USA. Point being, whatever regime evolves in a poor country, you will always get a people with envious eyes looking to migrate to a richer country. Question is, how long before said richer destinations implode under the pressure of poor immigrants? Or is this too much truth?
@Keth Tgi: Was the USA involved in confrontations with an independent country, the answer is yes, which backs up the comment made. If countries involved in a political struggle, then it is up to that country to confront it not outside forces. You didn’t mention how Castro ousted the criminal/terrorist Batista in your analysis of the situation, you also failed to mention how the mafia had a grip on the country and was using the island to launder it’s ill gotten gains. Castro fixed the problem, not Batista and not the USA.
@bernard berry: I also forgot to mention that the USA led by JFK, who’s father’s past was suspect to say the least, used said Italian organization (sam giancanna + co) to try and eliminate Castro. This is the same JFK adored by the Irish who himself only became president after a campaign led by the Italian organization to make him president.
I would have thought that the US is quite underpopulated at 330 million for such a vast country, all free open economies need a steady flow of cheap labour, now criminals you don’t want so I understand vetting of new migrants is required, I just think republican politicians opposed to any Mexican and central Americans arriving is more about future voting habits, and not really about criminality. A bit like our own DUP up the road, they just can’t handle their voting block been slowly diluted. Texas republicans just can’t have Texas becoming a California. The criminality thing in my opinion is just a red herring. It’s more about the browning of southern states but especially Texas.
@bernard berry:
True, not all facts were present, but neither were existing facts untrue. I wonder what the Cuban people would make of your reply?
@Keth Tgi: As I have said, I think it is for the people of the nation in question to fight their own political fights.
One could also aske the population of our own country their feelings on the present government, I am sure there would be a mixed reaction depending on the people asked, one might get very different opinions.
P.s. I don’t want to come across as hostile towards your or your comment, I just feel that these extremely complex situations can be made to appear as simple, when in fact they have multiple facets of complexity.
@bernard berry: I will finish by saying one more uncomfartible truth…
Castro sCuba was/is designed for it’s people, He chucked out the criminals and those alligned to the former dictator, along with anyone else that wanted to leave. The USA’s part of Cuba is used for illegal torture and rendition, who is the righteous and who is not, depends on how one views situation. Personally , I would rather live in Castro’s Cuba than live in America’s Cuba.
@bernard berry: Thanks Barry. I think I see where you’re coming from.
@Keth Tgi: Barry, Bernard, what’s in a name : )
Would be quite easy to close borders if the state really wanted to.
Have they taken down the great big wall that the obnoxious Donald built? It was the greatest big wall ever built. Ever! It was a beautiful wall.
MILLIONS of people will flood in according to Donald. MILLIONS? Hyperbole at its finest.
have your say