NI Workers 'Are Earning More', Says Report

Average earnings in Northern Ireland are on the up - despite the recession.

Figures released on Wednesday showed NI full-time weekly private sector earnings increased by 3.5% over the year compared to 0.8% in the UK as a whole.

This resulted in a narrowing of the NI-UK private sector pay gap (by 2.2 percentage points) to 82.8% at April 2011.

Results from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) showed that gross weekly earnings for all NI employees (full- and part-time) increased by 1.5% over the year.

Commenting on the figures, the Stormont Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: "Northern Ireland has experienced rising levels of pay over the year to April 2011 and this was more marked that of the UK.

"Whilst these figures are to be welcomed, it is recognised that in order to promote economic recovery, the private sector requires more highly paid jobs.

"The draft Programme for Government highlights the Executive’s intention to deliver the right support to enable the private sector to experience high value-added growth.

"It also contains commitments to supporting the formation of 25,000 new jobs, attracting more foreign investment, as well as supporting R&D to help our entrepreneurs innovate," the DUP Minister added.

She concluded: "Economic recovery in a rapidly changing global economic environment will be challenging. Our targets are ambitious and I make no apologies for that, as I believe that with the right support, local businesses can grow and prosper in these hard times."

In detail, weekly earnings for all NI employees (full and part-time considered together) over the year to April 2011 increased by 1.5% to £360.0, compared to the whole of the UK where earnings remained relatively the same at £403.9.

NI full-time employees also experienced faster growth in their gross weekly earnings over the year to April 2011 relative to the UK (NI growth: 3.0% to £450.6; UK growth: 0.4% to £500.7) and this trend also continued for part-time employees in NI who experienced a 1.7% increase in earnings to £151.6 (UK: 0.2% to £154.0).

However, median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) for all NI employees increased by 2.7% to £9.96 over the year to April 2011, while comparable UK earnings increased by 0.7% to £11.15.

(BMcC/Gk)