The Distribution of earnings has remained remarkably static in Northern Ireland over the past two years. The number of people earning under £20,000 was 57%, the same figure recorded in the previous year. The most significant decreases have been among those earning over £150,000 and those earning over £200,000. Both these groups have halved in the last year.
While the decrease in the number of high-earners is perhaps not surprising in the current economic climate, the figures from the Personal Income Statistics do show a marked regional contrast to the rest of the UK. The percentage of those earning below £20,000 in the UK as a whole is only 51%, while in the South East of England it is only 46%.
More information on the distribution of income in Northern Ireland can be found in the NERI Quarterly Economic Facts Indicator 4.6.