NI wages growing fastest but still lowest in the UK

Private sector employee salaries in Northern Ireland saw the largest increase over the year of all the UK, however salaries in the region still remain among the lowest in the UK.

Employees in the private sector in the rest of the UK saw their salaries increase by just 0.8% in the 12 month period up to April 2011. The median figure is based on employees in the middle of the income scale. In Northern Ireland, the weekly median earnings of all employees, including full and part-time rose by 1.5% to £360 while the weekly average for the rest of the UK saw no change.

However, despite seeing the largest growth over the 12 month period, employees in Northern Ireland still receive much lower salaries compared to the rest of the UK. Full time workers in Northern Ireland earn a gross weekly median salary of £451, whereas employees in London earn nearly £200 more. Public sector employees in Northern Ireland, including those in certain banks, stand to earn nearly £9,000 more each year than those in the private sector based on the respective median salaries of both sectors. The gross average salary in Northern Ireland is £18,720.

The figures were contained in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) compiled by the NI Statistics and Research Agency and the Office of National Statistics.

If you work in Northern Ireland and require legal advice in respect of an employment law matter contact Wilson Nesbitt solicitors in Belfast or Bangor by email at employment@wilson-nesbitt.com .

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