The CSO’s earnings and labour costs data for the period lay bare the squeeze on households as they grapple with the worsening cost of living crisisAverage weekly earnings were up 2.4 per cent in the second quarter, lagging the rate of inflation almost four-fold, new data from the Central Statistics Office shows.
Prices in the Republic rose an estimated 9.1 per cent in the year at the end of the same period, according to the consumer price index, which is also compiled by the Central Statistics Office. The second largest increase was 9.5 per cent in the transportation and storage sector which rose from €794.61 to €870.10 over the year.
Average hourly total labour costs were €30.93 across all economic sectors. The sector with the highest average hourly total labour costs was the information and communication sector with a rate of €48.39. Average hourly total labour costs increased by 19.6 per cent over the five years, from €25.86 per hour to €30.93.
An Garda Síochána recorded the highest average weekly earnings in the public sector of €1,503.32 while the education sector recorded the highest average hourly earnings in the quarter of €43.44.