Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings: 2018

The survey provides information about the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations.

Main points

• Median gross weekly earnings for full-time adults working in Wales were £509.0 in April 2018. This was 89.5% of the average for the UK (£569.0). Median gross weekly earnings in Wales were the second lowest amongst the 12 UK countries and English regions.
• Median gross weekly earnings for full-time adults working in Wales increased by 2.1% between 2017 and 2018, compared to a 3.5% increase across the UK. Wales had the eleventh highest percentage increase amongst the 12 UK countries and English regions.
• Median full-time hourly earnings (excluding overtime) for women in Wales in April 2018 were 92.8% of the average for men. This percentage was above that for the UK as a whole (91.4%) and was the third largest amongst the UK countries and English regions. In Northern Ireland, median hourly full-time earnings for females were higher than those for males.
• Median part-time hourly earnings (excluding overtime) for women in Wales in April 2018 were 104.0% of the average for men. This percentage was lower than that for the UK as a whole (104.4%) and was the sixth largest amongst the UK countries and English regions.
• The gender pay gap on a median hourly full-time basis (excluding overtime) in April 2018 was 7.3% in Wales and 8.6% in the UK. In Wales the gap has increased by 0.9 percentage points and in the UK it decreased by 0.5 percentage points.
• For part time employees women earn more than men, resulting in a negative pay gap. The gender pay gap on a median hourly part-time basis (excluding overtime) in April 2018 stood at -4.0% in Wales and -4.4% in the UK. In Wales the gap has narrowed by 3.0 percentage points and in the UK it narrowed by 0.9 percentage points. [NB: the part time pay gap below the UK level can be volatile].
• Median full-time weekly earnings for those living in Wales increased by 2.5% (to £518.6) over the year. The level in 2018 was 91.1% of the UK average.