Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:113 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the level of median earnings in the economy for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/00]
Written Answers. - Median Earnings Level.
The median level of earnings – that level of earnings where 50% of workers are earning more and 50% are earning less – can be derived for those sectors of the economy covered by the 1996 structure of earnings survey. It is anticipated that a structure of earnings survey will be carried out every fourth year from 2002 onwards.
According to the 1996 structure of earnings survey the annual median level of earnings was £13,920 for full-time workers and £3,900 for part-time workers.
The sectors covered by the 1996 survey were mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water supply, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, financial intermediation – part of.
More up to date information is available on average weekly earnings on a quarterly basis for the industry sector; the public sector – excluding health – the banking, insurance and building society sector and the building sector. The latest average weekly earnings for each of those sectors are as follows:
|
Sector |
Period |
Average WeeklyEarnings |
Industry
Industrial
1994
£265.13
1995
£270.70
1996
£278.68
1997
£286.14
1998
£299.21
June 1999
£313.84
Clerical
1994
£312.83
1995
£321.20
1996
£332.04
1997
£348.76
1998
£366.60
June 1999
£388.01
Managerial
1994
£491.36
1995
£502.52
1996
£510.99
1997
£533.03
1998
£552.56
June 1999
£573.30
All employees
1994
£300.22
1995
£307.69
1996
£317.37
1997
£329.69
1998
£346.67
June 1999
£364.82
Public Sector (excl. health)
1994
£371.49
1995
£382.09
1996
£397.80
1997
£417.44
1998
£437.21
June 1999
£456.68
Banking, Insurance and Building Societies
1994
£381.29
1995
£385.43
1996
£398.42
1997
£409.68
1998
£424.98
June 1999
£447.57
Building
1994
£269.83
1995
£284.03
1996
£298.14
1997
£330.84
1998
£349.17
June 1999
£360.58
A new quarterly series giving information on average weekly earnings in the distributive and business services sectors is being published for the first time today.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:114 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the level of median earnings, as referred to in the report of the National Minimum Wage Commission, was calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2713/00]
The National Minimum Wage Commission in its report of April 1998 recommended that "the national minimum wage be measured against the median earnings of all employees" as opposed to the earnings of employees in one sector, such as manufacturing industry. The commission was of the view that there was no great divergence between average earnings generally and manufacturing earnings. Therefore, the commission concluded that the national minimum wage should be measured against the median earnings of all employees as this better reflected the real level of earnings in the economy and not just the earnings in one sector.
I share the concern expressed by the commission that the introduction of a national minimum wage should not lead to a decrease in employment. The recently published National Minimum Wage Bill, 2000, which gives effect to the Government's commitment to introduce a national minimum hourly rate of pay, aims to strike the right balance between the need to improve the earnings of employees subject to low pay and the need to protect employment and competitiveness.