Wages rise by €30 a week in space of a year

All 13 sectors of the economy saw average earnings rise from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the same period in 2018. However, some rose more rapidly than others.

The largest percentage increases were seen in the administrative and support services sector (10.5pc) and the transportation and storage sector (9.1pc).

Average earnings were up 2.3pc in the public sector and 4.4pc in the private sector, according to the CSO's preliminary estimates.

Average weekly earnings were €731.86 at the end of 2017 and had risen to €761.65 a year later, an increase of 4.1pc or €29.79.

The highest average weekly earnings of €1,175 was in the information and communication sector, followed by the financial, insurance and real estate sector at €1,084.

In contrast, the lowest average earnings were seen in the accommodation and food services sector at €360 and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector at €493.

Meanwhile, average hourly earnings rose by 3.8pc in the year to the end of 2018, rising from €22.60 to €23.46.

The highest average hourly earnings was in the education sector with a rate of €36.27, followed by the information and communication sector at €32.32.

The lowest earning sectors were accommodation and food services at just €13.33 an hour and arts, entertainment and recreation at €17.59.

The job vacancy rate at the end of last year was 0.9pc, down from 1pc a year earlier.