There are many measures examining differences in various socio-economic characteristics among men and women. In general, women are better educated, healthier, live longer but earn less – factors which in themselves point towards gaps in societal equality for both sexes.
Focusing just on income, it is possible to take the most comprehensive measure of incomes available for the Republic of Ireland – data on disposable income from the CSO’s Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC). Indicator 4.3a of the latest NERI Quarterly Economic Facts document presents the most recent data on this issue - for 2012. It measures the after pay, tax and transfers income of individuals; initially calculating this for households and then adjusting the income amounts to account for household size. The resulting figures provide income per individual.
In 2012 average disposable income for all individuals was €20,856 (€400 per week). In that year, the gap between male and female income was €132 (€2.50 per week) with average income figures for men and women of €20,922 and €20,790 respectively. As average figures can be skewed by high and low incomes, at either end of the distribution, median income (the income of the middle person in the distribution) are also of note. In 2012, the gap between male and female median incomes was €478 (€9.19 per week) with median income figures for men and women of €18,039 and €17,561 respectively. These trends are highlighted in the charts below.
The data since 2004 shows a similar trend with male incomes consistently exceed female incomes by on average 5% per annum. Incomes peaked in 2008 and have since declined by 14% on average (by 15.1% for males and 13.8% for females) reflecting decreases in earnings, reduced welfare payments and increases in income taxation levels.
Full details in indicator 4.3a of the latest edition of the NERI's Quarterly Economic Facts available here.