Annual wages down €700 in just three months

Average annual earnings have fallen by almost €700 in only the last three months in spite of people working longer hours.

The latest figures from the CSO show that between the second and third quarters of this year average weekly earnings fell from €684.97 to €671.70. That meant a €690 decrease in average annual earnings to €34,928.

The fall is in spite of an, albeit small, increase in the average hours worked, from 31.8 to 31.9.