National minimum wage increase 2019

Employers with workers on the national minimum wage should note that from 1 January 2019, Ireland’s national minimum hourly rate of pay increased by 25 cent to €9.80.

An ESRI examination of the labour market transitions of minimum wage workers shows that over a nine month period, approximately 30 percent of minimum wage employees transitioned to higher pay, with 18 percent staying on the minimum wage.

The vast majority of transitions to higher paid employment are achieved through wage progression within the employee’s current job, as opposed to a job change. However, certain groups within the population, such as non-Irish nationals, those with low levels of education, part-time employees and those on temporary contracts were found to have a higher likelihood of remaining on the minimum wage.

Transitioning from the national minimum wage to higher paid roles

Individuals with an aptitude for IT who are unemployed—or at risk of unemployment—should keep in mind that Springboard ICT programmes provide some free places for people in receipt of a social protection payment and for ‘returners’ seeking to up-skill to re-enter the workforce. With IT skills in strong demand across the Irish economy, national minimum wage workers can unlock opportunities to advance their career through these technology-related education programmes. While entry level roles in areas such as Java development often require a Bachelors degree in computer science or a related discipline, some employers will consider candidates with relevant skills acquired on bootcamps or through online learning and/or formal education programmes. Similarly, employees transitioning to data analyst roles will find good opportunities in the current market. On average, an entry level data analyst on a graduate entry scheme can expect to earn €33,200 rising to €68k+ for senior roles.

How Eolas Recruitment can help

If you are interested in IT opportunities, Eolas Recruitment would like to hear from you. We have a team of expert consultants whose knowledge of the Irish IT market is second to none. So, when you are ready to start your job search, reach out to a member of our team for more information about how we can help you find the right role to advance your career.