Irish suffered more during economic crisis than other EU workers

Irish workers suffered more than those in other EU countries, with their wages stagnating, despite a big rise in productivity, a study of employment and social developments in the EU has found.

The figures show the trend from 2008, as the economic crisis deepened in Ireland, to the end of 2014.

Labour costs dropped by a tenth, the most of any EU country, while average pay barely changed, showing the lowest growth of any EU country, other than Cyprus. Productivity, however, grew by more than 10%, the third highest in the EU over the six years.