Public sector earning 50% more an hour

THE Government is expected to come under greater pressure to introduce cutbacks in the public sector after figures show the average hourly pay of civil and public sectors is almost 50% higher than those working in the private sector.

The results may also impact on the ongoing talks between the Government, employers and trade union representatives over a national pay agreement.

Business leaders and opposition parties have voiced growing concern about the spiralling cost of public sector pay, which has outpaced wage increases in the private sector largely as a result of the benchmarking process.

The National Employment Survey, which was carried out in October 2006 by the Central Statistics Office, reveals the average hourly earnings of workers in the public sector is 48.9% higher than other workers.

Public sector earnings average €25.47 per hour, compared with €17.11 per hour in the private sector, according to the CSO.

Civil and public servants also work considerably shorter hours in their working week than their counterparts in the private sector. On average public sector employees work 33.1 hours per week compared with 35.4 in the private sector.

Overall, the national pay average is €19.16 per hour, with half of all employees earning between €10 and €20 per hour. Almost one in five workers earn less than €10 per hour, while just over 3% earn in excess of €50 per hour.

The national minimum wage at the time of the survey was €7.65 per hour, while the current rate is €8.65 per hour.

The CSO calculated that the national annual salary, including basic earnings and bonuses and allowances, is €37,200. Earnings were highest in the electricity, gas and water supply sector at €66,667 and lowest among hotel and restaurant workers at €22,139.

The highest earners in terms of hourly pay are workers in the education sector, who average €32.06 per hour, while the lowest were in the hotel and restaurant sector with €12.39.

The survey highlights how women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts, with females earning 86.2% of average male earnings.

Men earn on average €20.50 per hour compared with €17.67 for women. The pay gap between the genders is least noticeable in the hotel and restaurant sector and biggest in the financial sector, where women earn just 72.4% of their male colleagues’ pay rates.

The CSO report also reveals that part-time workers earn €14.75 on average.

Based on figures supplied by employers and staff, the survey shows the average working week is 34.8 hours, with men working 38.3 hours and women 31 hours.

Teachers have the shortest working week, with just 26.7 hours per week.

The survey showed that educational qualifications have a strong influence on earnings potential as workers with third-level degrees tend to earn more.

It also revealed that the average employee has been at work for just over 16 years and spent 8.7 years in their current employment.

British people living in the Republic also earn slightly more than Irish nationals, while workers from the new 12 EU accession countries earn considerably less on average.

Workers living in Dublin are the highest average earners at €20.46 per hour, as those outside the capital earn around €1-€2 less.