THE EARNINGS of the average Irish worker rose by about 0.75 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012, to €21.96 per hour and €695.80 per week.

The figure is contained in CSO data on earnings and labour costs published today.

The average hourly earning is up by 16c per hour, while the duration of the average working week remained static at 31.7 hours.

Meanwhile, the average industrial wage rose to €828.88 per week, the equivalent of €43,101.76 per year.

This is up by €16.96 per week when compared to the third quarter, by €17.89 in a year, and by €10.33 compared to four years ago.

Construction wages stand at €701.65 per week, while jobs in information and communications have risen to €1,000.88 per week.

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Accommodation and food services remains the lowest-paying sector, with weekly wages of €325.62.

The quarterly rise in the average industrial wage is the largest single movement in the wage since the economic crisis hit in 2008.