Figures released by the Central Statistics Office reveal that on average, people earned €36,919 in 2016, €400 more than in 2015.

Full-time employees averaged out at earning €45,611 in 2016 (an increase of 1.2% on 2015), while part-time workers earned €16,597 (an increase of 1.6%).

Since the economic downturn, average annual earnings have improved, rising by approximately €1,000 from €35,915 in 2011 to €36,919 in 2016.

Total earnings increased by 4% since 2016, rising to €61.2 billion in 2016; the CSO say that this was driven by a rise in the average numbers employed (2.8%), a 0.5% increase in weekly working hours, and a 0.6% increase in average hourly earnings.

The cost of employing labour jumped up 4.1% in 2016, with total costs reaching €70.8 billion.

 

Which sectors are earning the most?
The highest average earnings were seen in the Information and communication sector at €55,961. Their average regular earnings of €49,319 and irregular average earnings of €6,216 makes it the highest paid sector in 2016.

Industry workers make the most overtime earnings, averaging out at €2,403 in 2016.

The Financial, insurance and real estate sector is the second highest earning sector, with average annual wages coming in at €54,317.

The lowest paid was the Accommodation and food services sector, which had an average annual earnings of €17,214.

Of the 13 major economic sectors in Ireland, the average annual earnings rose in 9 of them in 2016, with the largest increase seen in the Professional, scientific and technical sector where average annual earnings rose from €41,973 to €44,667.

The Accommodation and food services and the Construction sectors both rose from €37,103 to €38,326 (3.3%).

However, the Public administration and defence sector saw a drop of 1.7%, with average annual earnings falling from €48,173 to €47,330 between 2015 and 2016.