Research has shown one sector in particular in Ireland is seeing a major hike in wages following a widespread return to the office.
The cost of living crisis is leaving many people short at the end of the month as everything from groceries to car fuel and electricity has seen an increase.
Those who are looking to get a new qualification, or who already have experience in childcare are in for a welcome bit of news.
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Wages are growing rapidly in the sector, according to new figures inspecting the wages being posted across new roles in Ireland.
Jack Kennedy, an economist with Indeed UK & Ireland, explained the findings to Newstalk and said: “We have been looking at posted wages in the job postings, and we saw that childcare job postings were offering 17% year-on-year increase in posted wages so that certainly speaks to the high demand really and the hiring challenges employers are seeing at the moment.
“I think we have seen certainly a return to offices has been one factor that is helping boost the demand for workers in the childcare sector”.
When asked if these salary rises were sustainable Mr Kennedy said: “Well it’s only in a handful of categories where we’ve really been seeing such strong wage growth, largely in categories where we have been seeing employers facing the biggest hiring challenges”.
Meanwhile, according to livingwage.ie, the updated Living Wage for the Republic of Ireland has been calculated as €13.85 per hour. The new rate represents an increase of €2.55 per hour over the 2022/23 national minimum rate (€11.30).
According to their updated document for 2023, “the living wage is calculated based on living costs, and the increased rate is associated with increases in these costs.
“Over the past year most living costs have increased, including for energy, transport and housing, and these have outweighed lower costs in education and insurance to drive the overall increase”
Despite this estimation, the minimum wage in Ireland sits at €11.30 per hour in 2023.
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