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THE PAY of the average Irish worker increased in the first three months of the year – but wages for workers in non-business sectors fell.
That’s according to figures published by the EU’s statistics body, Eurostat, outlining the costs of labour throughout the European Union.
The figures show a 0.4 per cent increase in the average wage in Ireland in the first quarter, with a 1.6 per cent increase in other non-pay costs associated with hiring workers.
However, when broken down into the ‘business’ and ‘non-business’ economies, the figures reveal that those involved in in professional sectors saw pay increase – while those elsewhere would have endured falling pay.
Pay in business sectors increased by 0.9 per cent between December and March – but in the “mainly non-business economy”, including industrial and shift work, the average wage fell by 0.7 per cent.
According to figures from the Central Statistics Office, the cost of living in Ireland rose by around 0.7 per cent in the same period.
The Eurostat figures also said wages in the construction sector had fallen by 0.5 per cent in the first quarter, though it said pay in the industrial and services sectors remained ‘confidential’.
The increase in Irish pay, averaged across all sectors, was well below the averages for either the Eurozone or the European Union as a whole.
Average pay in the Eurozone rose by 1.7 per cent in the quarter, while wages in the EU as a whole grew by 2.0 per cent.
There are some positives in the figures for Ireland, however.
When other costs of labour were included, the cost of hiring someone in the Eurozone rose by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter, while the cost of labour was up by 1.9 per cent in the EU as a whole.
By comparison, the cost of labour in Ireland rose by only 0.5 per cent – meaning Ireland becomes slightly more competitive in attracting foreign investment.
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Wages go down while the cost of living went up, taxes, bank charges etc increased but of course that doesn’t matter and wont be discussed by expert groups or government backed economy experts sure in there eyes were all nearly out of the recession and sure whats the harm if a few peoples kids go hungry and loose there homes as long as we continue to pay up thats all that counts
Bullshit, unless you’re a politician or a banker, bondholder of some description, you’re wages have been hammered by reduced pay, increased taxes and bills seem to rise nonstop. You get left with very little in your pocket at the end of the week, unlike the greedy bastards in power who don’t give a shit about the Irish people.
Being “more competitive” is not a positive for 99% of those reading this piece. It means bills are needlessly more expensive and Tesco costs more than it should. That is a positive for a tiny, tiny minority of people like Apple shareholders and Michael O’Leary.
It’s really unhelpful and antisocial for mainstream media to obscure this by using neoliberal(ya kno, that failed paradigm?) euphemisms expressed in a distinctly Oirish sycophantic gombeenery. Ara sure why don’t we all work for nothing then we’ll have all the foreign investment..! Just imagine how positive that will be..! FLOTUS might give us a wave..!
Typical big shots wafting the economy as an excuse to pay minimum wage
Wages have falling dramatically since 2007, while the cost of living increases and tax after tax is magically introduced. Tough as old boots us Irish, I’d we we’re French heads would be rolling by now.
So much for all the bullcrap from FG/Lab about the “recovery”. Just for the wealthy as usual. Time for a Wealth Tax instead of the FFamily Home tax which doesn’t take ability to pay into account.
Wow what a surprise cost of living going through thr roof income down and the government scratch their heads as to why the local economy is fecked
0.7% is through the roof? Prone to over reaction are we?
Sure i know what will the local economy another tax
…..and public sector workers’ pay is about to be further cut by an average of 5% in 2 weeks – with little prospect of any significant increase for 5 years, I guess. In what state will they be in then?
Any word on when the frequently-mentioned industrial action is about to begin, or have public sector workers accepted defeat?
Genuinely looking for an update for all you public sector bashers out there.
Good overpaid nation … Apart from politicians they should get a 50% pay rise
For unions who don’t agree to taking more pay cuts the minister can now legally dock wages for not complying……that’s the public sector so the private sector will be hit soon. They never hit both at the same time….. All the while bank charges on bailed out banks and mortgages interest rates go up and the criminals in Fianna Fáil who lead us here are believed to be the most popular party!?!? My blood boils ….. I’m 28 work and pray every day I win the lotto because if I do I will not have to worry about my mortgage or family financially and I will run in every election to represent the people of this country properly and give it my all to change the way this country is “run” starting will criminal politicians, criminal oil an gas deals, illegal taxing, politicians allowances etc….. Rant over
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