Workers’ average weekly earnings in Ireland rose 3.5% year over year in the second quarter to €771.12, according to preliminary estimates released this week by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office.

The Central Statistics Office also reported average hourly earnings rose 3.8% in the second quarter to €23.81. However, the average weekly paid hours in the second quarter fell 0.3% year over year to 32.4.

The job vacancy rate at the end of the second quarter was 1.0%, down from 1.2% in the same quarter a year ago.

Highest average weekly earnings were in the information and communication sector at €1,212.57 in the second quarter. Second-highest was in “financial, insurance and real estate activities” at €1,140.09.

Lowest average weekly earnings were in “accommodation and food service activities” at €365.59.

However, it was the “administrative and support services” sector that posted the largest percentage year-over-year increase, up 11.4% to €610.61.

The Central Statistics Office also found that average hourly total labour costs rose 3.9% year over year to €27.61 across all economic sectors in the second quarter.

Separately, the Central Statistics Office reported employment in Ireland rose by 2.0% year over year in the second quarter as the country added 45,000 jobs.

Full-time employment rose by 2.2%, or 39,300 jobs, while part-time employment rose by 1.3%, representing an increase of 5,700 part-time jobs.

Unemployment decreased by 13,600 year over year in Q2. It was the 28^th quarter in a row where unemployment has declined on an annual basis. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Q2 was 5.2%, up slightly from 5.1% in Q1.