Local workers earn well below national average

Westmeath workers are the second highest paid in the midlands region, while those in Roscommon are middle of the rankings in Connacht, but workers in both counties are earning well below the national average.

That's according to a report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which found that Westmeath workers had the second highest median earnings in the region last year €40,076). Workers in Laois had the highest median earnings (€40,294) in the midlands, while Longford people had the lowest (€36,178). Offaly people's median earnings last year were €38,234.

The analysis by the CSO found that Westmeath workers aged between 40 and 49 were the best paid in the county with median earnings of €44,606, while those aged between 15 and 24 were lowest paid (€21,469).

The median earning in Roscommon is €39,048. This places the county in the middle of the five counties in Connacht, with workers in Galway and Sligo recording higher median earnings and those in Mayo and Leitrim less. The highest earnings were in Galway (€40,973) and the lowest in Leitrim (€37,704). The highest paid in Roscommon were also aged between 40 and 49.

Workers in Dublin (€46,136) had the highest median earnings in the country last year, followed by Kildare (€45,173), Meath (€43,557) and Wicklow (€43,140) . Workers in Donegal are the lowest paid in the country with median earnings of €33,523, followed by Monaghan (€34,707) and Longford.

Nationally, the median earnings last year were €41,823, with those in the 40-49 age bracket the best paid (€47,296).

The report also found that here is relatively parity when it comes to the number of men (51%) and women (49%) in active employment. However, when it comes to those within the top ten percent of earnings, 70 per cent are male and the figure rises to 75 per cent when it comes to those in the top one per cent of earners.

From 2012-2022, the proportion of females in the top 1% of earners increased from 18.7% to 25.2% and the proportion of females in the top 10% of earners increased from 28.8% to 29.7%. However, during the same period the proportion of females in the top 25% of earners decreased from 39.3% to 38.2%.