Irish Average Weekly Earnings Rise 4.4% in Q1

Average weekly earnings in Ireland rose by 4.4% year-on-year to €1,074.61 in the first quarter of 2026, following a 3.1% increase in the previous quarter. Earnings rose across 11 of the 13 economic sectors during Q1 2026, with the strongest growth recorded in the administrative and support services sector at 7.7%, followed by a 6.7% increase in the education sector. Average hourly earnings also posted solid annual growth, rising by 4.0% to €33.13 and increasing across 11 of the 13 sectors. At the same time, average weekly paid hours edged up by 0.3%, from 32.3 hours in Q1 2025 to 32.4 hours in Q1 2026. Average earnings in the economy continue to increase year-on-year, supported by several factors, including a broadly stable job vacancy rate since 2024, according to Dr Niall O’Sullivan, Statistician in the Earnings Analysis Division.

Average weekly earnings in Ireland increased by 3.1% year-on-year to €1,011.88 in the fourth quarter of 2025, following a downwardly revised 4.1% rise in the previous period. “Average earnings in the economy continue to increase year-on-year, driven by a number of factors, including a stable job vacancy rate since over the last 2 years, as well as annual employment growth of 2.0%", said Dr Niall O’Sullivan, Statistician in the Earnings Analysis Division. Earnings grew across all sectors in the year to Q4 2025, led by a 6.8% increase in accommodation & food services and a 6.2% rise in financial, insurance & real Estate. Average hourly earnings rose by 3.4% to €31.22, increasing in all 13 of the economic sectors, while average weekly paid hours decreased by 0.3% to 32.4 in Q4 2025. The job vacancy rate in Q4 2025, which measures job vacancies on the last working day of the quarter, was 1.3%, an increase of 0.1% from Q4 2024, but down 0.1% from the rate recorded at the end of Q3 2025.

Average weekly earnings in Ireland rose 4.9% year-on-year to €1,003.81 in Q3 2025, easing from a downwardly revised 4.5% increase in the previous quarter and marking the second-slowest pace in nearly two years. Wage gains were recorded across all 13 sectors of the economy, underscoring broad-based strength. The sharpest increases were seen in arts, entertainment and recreation (+10.2%), mining and quarrying (+10%), and real estate activities (+8.8%). Meanwhile, average hourly earnings climbed 4.3% to €30.50, and average weekly paid hours inched up 0.6% to 32.9, reflecting a modest expansion in overall labor input.