Education workers the highest paid: National Employment Survey

People working in education are still the highest paid, according to the latest National Employment Survey (NES), which is based on figures from 2008 and 2009.

Those working in education earn an hourly average of €34.55, compared to the national average of €22.05.

New figures also show the average hourly wage went up 2% to €22.05 between 2008 and 2009.

The average hourly rate for male workers in October 2009 was €23.63, while it was €20.61 for women.

The lowest average earnings in October 2009 were in the accommodation and food services sector.

Public sector workers are still better paid than those in the private sector - the NES recorded average hourly earnings of €29.09 and €19.53 in the public and private sectors respectively in October 2009.

However, the data does not take into account the pension levy for public sector workers, nor the 7.5% reduction in pay since Januray last year.

Chief economist with employers' body IBEC Fergal O'Brien said the rates of pay had narrowed significantly.

"There's a significant pay gap between the public and the private sector (in the survey), close to about 50%, but the pensions levy is not included in these nunbers and also public sector workers experienced a further pay cut of about 7.5% from January 2010, so that pay gap has narrowed significantly since then," he said.