Private sector wages up 2.2% in year

Weekly wages in the private sector grew 2.2% in the past year, while public sector wages were little changed, according to official figures.

The CSO said private sector average wages rose to just over €654 in the first three months from almost €640 a year earlier.

Average weekly public sector wages, which include people working in semi-state firms, were little changed at almost €906, when the effects of the temporary recruitment of thousands of Census enumerators is taken into account.