1.9% increase in construction earnings

The average weekly earnings for clerical and operative workers in the construction industry increased from €691.72 to €704.93 in the 12 months between December 2003 and December 2004, a rise of 1.9%.

Figures from the Central Statistics office show there was an increase of 1.9% in the hourly rate paid to all grades - from €15.68 to €15.98 - and there was no change in the number of hours worked per week.

Weekly earnings for adult unskilled workers rose by 0.2% from €659.19 to €660.52 between December 2003 and the same month in 2004. The hourly rate rose from €14.36 to €14.39 and there was no change in the number of hours worked each week.

Skilled operatives saw their weekly earnings increase by 1.2% from €814.90 to €824.38 over the same period. The hourly rate rose from €18.36 to €18.55 and there was no change in the number of hours worked each week.