Average weekly earnings in Ireland hit €1,074

Earnings continue to rise after average weekly earnings passed €1,000 for the first time a year ago

The average weekly earnings in Ireland in the first quarter of the year was €1,074.61, up 4.4% from €1,029.81 a year earlier, according to the CSO. Picture: Pexels

The average weekly earnings in Ireland in the first quarter of the year was €1,074.61, up 4.4% from €1,029.81 a year earlier, according to the CSO.

The average weekly earnings in Ireland passed €1,000 for the first time in the first quarter of 2025. Earnings have continued to rise, with average hourly earnings rising 4% to €33.13 during the first quarter of the year, from €31.86 in Q1 2025.

“Average earnings in the economy continue to increase year-on-year, driven by a number of factors, including a stable job vacancy rate since 2024," said CSO statistician Niall O'Sullivan. 

The 4.4% increase in average weekly earnings in Q1 2026 came as the Consumer Price Index increased by 3% over the same period.

The sector with the highest average hourly total labour costs in Q1 2026 was Information & Communication at €62.65, €58.88 in Financial, Insurance & Real Estate Activities, and €50.98 in Education. The lowest average total labour costs were in the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector, which recorded a rate of €20.39. Average weekly paid hours were 32.4 in Q1 2026, up 0.3% from the Q1 2025 hours of 32.3. 

The job vacancy rate at the end of Q1 2026 was 1.1%, from 0.2% from Q1 2025, but 0.1% lower than the rate recorded at the end of Q4 2025.

The Public Administration & Defence sector had the highest job vacancy rate at 3.5% in Q1 2026, followed by 2.1% in the Information & Communication sector.