Average earnings rise almost 5%

THE average industrial worker earned almost 5% more this year than in 2003, new figures showed yesterday.

The Central Statistics Office reported a 4.5% increase in average industrial wages in the 12 months to the end of September 2004.

The average hours worked in the industrial sector dropped by 0.2% over the same period, meaning hourly pay rates increased by 4.9%, the study showed.