Average weekly earnings fell slightly in the second quarter of the year, new data from the Central Statistics Office showed today.

Preliminary estimates said average weekly earnings were €687.84 for the three month period, down from €688.11 a year earlier.

But average hourly earnings were broadly stable at €21.91, compared with €21.90 a year earlier. Average weekly paid hours were static too, at 31.4.

In a note, Davy Stockbrokers said the figures were evening out.

"Today's data are consistent with our broad view that the Irish labour market is slowly stabilising, both in terms of employment and earnings," it said.

In seven of the 13 sectors, weekly earnings showed a rise over the year. The largest increase was recorded in the professional, scientific and technical sector, which increased by 5.9 per cent.At the opposite end of the scale was the accommodation and food service sector, where average weekly earnings fell by 5.7 per cent.

The private sector saw weekly earnings fall by 0.5 per cent annually, but the public sector saw a rise of 2.8 per cent over the year. Average weekly earnings for the second quarter were €611.66 and €918.99 respectively.

Both sectors have seen a decline in recent times, with the public sector falling by 2.9 per cent or €27.10 in the past three years, and the private sector declining by 3.9 per cent over four years.

However, the figures so not take into deductions such as PRSI, tax and the public sector pension levy that came into effect in 2009.

Over the year, public sector numbers fell by 6.3 per cent to 380,800.