Irish women with degrees earn double those without

Irish women with college degrees earn almost twice as much as those with none, far higher than the income premium in other countries.

According to the OECD, the 90% earnings premium associated with a higher education qualification for women in Ireland compares to an average of just 62% in other developed countries. And on average, across the more than 30 other countries, men boost their earnings by more than women, with a 64% increase in earnings for males with a third-level education.

But, at 69%, it was also above-average for Irish men, reflecting the significant advantages of holding a college degree. However, the differences for males and females might equally be reflective of lower pay rates for medium- or low-skilled work, a topic promised to be addressed in the revised government priorities in the summer. The OECD’s Education at a Glance 2014 report shows that Ireland has seen one of the biggest improvements in higher education participation.