Average weekly earnings increased by 1.1 per cent to €695 in the year to the end of September, according to data published today.
The Central Statistics Office said average hourly earnings were €22 at the end of the third quarter, up 1.9 per cent from the figure of €21.58 recorded at the same point last year.
The average number of paid hours worked fell slightly in the same period, from 31.9 hours per week to 31.6 hours.
Weekly earnings in the private sector rose by 1.6 per cent over the year, compared with an increase of 0.9 per cent in the public sector (including semi-state organisations).
This brought average weekly earnings in the third quarter to €617.94 in the private sector and €925.51 in the public sector.
The estimated number of people employed in the public sector fell by 4.1 per cent in the first three quarters of the year to 377,900.
The CSO said earnings increased in eight of the 13 sectors examined.
Workers in the professional, scientific and technical sector saw the largest percentage increase, with their pay packets growing by an average of 8.4 per cent in the first nine months of the year.
Those employed in the accommodation and food services sector saw their pay fall by 5.1 per cent, the largest percentage decrease, in the same period.
Average earnings in the Republic fell by almost 15 per cent in the three years to 2011, with the average worker's total pay amounting to €40,775 last year.
