Ireland bottom of wage table

14th April 2008

Employers' organisations and government ministers are constantly lecturing workers across Ireland that Irish wage levels are unsustainable, and how wage increases are undermining Ireland's competitiveness, and wage inflation is pricing the Irish economy out of the international marketplace.

These facts are untrue.

Irish government ministers proudly point out that Ireland is one of the wealthiest countries in the EU and, indeed, the world. In terms of wealth per capita Ireland ranks second in the EU-15. Even when using the GNP figures, Ireland is in the top half of the table. But when comparing wages with these countries, Irish wages rank at the bottom, well behind the average of the top ten wealthiest countries in the EU.

Drawing on international data bases and the CSO, Unite has shown that Irish workers are paid considerably less than most of their European counterparts. Rather than being paid too much, Irish workers are paid too little and have a long ways to go before reaching even European averages, never mind levels that exist in advanced economies.