Private sector on course for 2.5%-3% pay rises

As the Irish Congress of Trade Unions pushes for private sector pay rises of 4% in 2017, employers say the figure could be 2.5% or 3% this year.

Last October, Ibec forecast that 71% of companies would award “modest” pay rises this year and that “the median pay increase for 2017 is expected to be 2%, similar to levels reported in the last three years”.

Despite the uncertainty caused by Brexit more recently, the employers’ body believes most of those employers will still press ahead with the increases.