The latest figures for growth in average weekly earnings show that regular pay, which excludes bonuses, rose by 5.9% in the year to the end of the latest rolling quarter, December 2024 to February 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is up from 5.8% in the year to the end of the previous rolling quarter, November 2024 to January 2025. Total pay, which includes bonuses, is showing at 5.6%, the same as previously. In real terms – that is, adjusted for inflation – regular pay growth was 2.1% and total pay growth was 1.9%. The ONS uses the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) to adjust for increases in the cost of living. Because it includes housing costs, this measure is a more accurate estimate of the average experience of inflation than the CPI, which excludes housing costs.

Late revisions

The ONS revised the latest figures, on an exceptional basis, ‘to allow for late and updated returns we received from one business to be included and improve the quality of the estimates’. The body highlighted that, at the whole economy level, these revisions are generally small and within the range it would expect to see during seasonal adjustment reviews. However, the ONS also said that once the estimates are broken down below the whole economy level, the revisions become larger.

Private sector

Across the private sector, regular pay growth is currently 5.9%, the same as previously. Total pay for the private sector as a whole increased by 5.6%, down from 5.8% last month. Looking at the various sub-sectors of the private sector, regular pay growth is strongest in wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants, which is also the sub-sector with the largest share of employment. Regular earnings here grew by 6.8%, up by almost one whole percentage point on the previous month’s figure of 5.9%.

The sub-sector with the next highest growth in regular earnings was construction, showing at 6.2%, though the trend here is level rather than rising. In manufacturing, regular pay growth was 5.7% in the year to February, down slightly from 5.8% in the year to January. Regular earnings growth was weakest in finance and business services, showing at 4.8%, and down from 5.3% previously.  

The pattern for total pay growth (including bonuses) was slightly different, with construction strongest at 6.1% (up from 5.9%), followed by wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants – 5.8%, up from 5.0%. Manufacturing was next (5.6%, down slightly from 5.7%) and as with regular pay, total pay growth in finance and business was weakest, this time showing at 4.4%, down from 5.1% previously.

Public sector

In the public sector (excluding the nationalised banks), regular earnings grew by 6.2% in the year to February, up from 5.7% in the year to January. Total earnings growth was similar, at 6.1% in the latest figures, down from 5.6% previously. Bonuses are rare in the public sector, with only senior civil servants normally in receipt of such payments. 

The average weekly earnings (AWE) growth figures continue to show a significant lead on our figures for basic pay awards. This, sometimes known as ‘earnings drift’, is because the AWE data contains other elements of pay, such as shift and overtime, and as an average – or change in an average – is also affected by changes in the number of hours worked or composition of workforces at the organisations sampled each month.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

Average earnings growth remains comparatively robust, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Across the whole economy, regular earnings – which exclude bonuses – grew by 5.9% in the year to the latest three-month period, November to January. This was the same as for the 12 months to the previous quarter, October to December. Growth in total earnings (including bonuses) was down slightly from 6.1% to 5.8%.

The recent increase in inflation has reduced the real-terms annual growth rates. These show that regular pay grew by 2.2% while total pay grew by 2.1%, down from 2.5% and 2.6% respectively the previous month. The ONS uses the CPIH estimate of inflation, which includes a measure of housing costs, to adjust the figures in relation to changes in the cost of living.

Regular earnings growth was strongest in retail, wholesale, hotels and restaurants at 6.3%, followed by construction at 6.2%. Manufacturing was showing at 5.8%, while regular pay growth in finance and business services was 5.3%. Most of these were down on the previous month’s figures, apart from construction, which stayed the same. Across the private sector as a whole, regular earnings grew by 6.1%, down from 6.2% the previous month.

In the public sector (excluding financial services), regular earnings growth was up from 5.1% last month, to 5.7% in the latest figures. The figure for the public sector including the nationalised banks was lower, at 5.3%, though this was also up, from 4.7%.

Total pay growth showed a slightly different pattern, with the highest figure in construction at 5.9%, though this was down from 6.6% for the three months ending December. Next highest was manufacturing at 5.6%, also down, and then retail at 5.5%, down from 5.8% a month earlier. Total earnings growth in finance and business services was 5.1%, down sharply from 6.2% in the previous set of figures. Across the private sector as a whole, total earnings grew by 5.9% (the same as for construction), down from 6.4% the previous month.

Total earnings growth in the public sector excluding financial services was 5.7%, up from 5.2% in the year to the end of the previous rolling quarter. As with regular pay, growth including the nationalised banks was lower at 5.3%, also up, from 4.8% earlier. 

The ONS also produces earnings growth series for ‘services’. This includes transport and communications alongside all other services in the private and public sectors. The reason for this is that data on the former sectors – particularly transport – is difficult to obtain, and can fluctuate significantly. The latest figures for this large ‘sector’, comprising 86% of all employment in the UK, are 6.0% for regular pay, which was the same as previously, and 5.9% for total pay, down from 6.2% last month.

It is important to note that the wider media sometimes refers to these figures as ‘average pay rises’. They are, of course, nothing of the sort, but rather are exactly as they are described, which is growth in average (weekly) earnings, and hence the name of the series. The latest figures for average weekly earnings are also included in the ONS release. These are showing at £711 for total pay, which includes bonuses, and £667 for regular pay, which does not. 

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

All three measures of average weekly earnings growth continue to show increases in the three months to December 2024, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Regular earnings – which exclude bonuses – grew by 5.9% across the whole economy, up from 5.6% in the previous three-month period. Total earnings growth, which includes bonuses, was 6.0%, up from 5.5% in the previous three months.

In real terms – adjusted for CPIH inflation – earnings growth continued to strengthen with both real-terms regular and total pay growth both increasing by 2.5%, up from 2.4% respectively in the previous release.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector increased to 6.2% in the current three-month period, up from 5.9% in the three months to November 2024. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants exhibited the strongest growth in regular pay at 6.6%, up from 6.0%, while regular earnings in the construction sector increased to 6.5%, up from 5.9%. Regular earnings in manufacturing remained the same at 6.0%. Finance and business services regular earnings grew by 5.9%, up from 5.7%. The lowest growth rate was again seen in the public sector (excluding financial services), where regular earnings growth grew to 5.0%, up from 4.3% the previous month.

Turning to total pay growth, which includes bonuses, this was strongest in construction at 6.6%, down from 7.4% in the previous period. In finance and business services, total average earnings increased by 6.1%, up from 5.9% in the previous three-month period. In wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants, growth is showing at 5.8%, slightly down from 5.9% last month. The lowest total earnings growth rate in the private sector was in manufacturing at 5.7%, down from 6.2%. In the public sector (excluding financial services), total pay growth was 5.2%, up from 4.3% in the previous three-month period.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

All three measures of average weekly earnings growth have shown increases in the three months to November 2024, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), continuing the upturn seen in the previous release. Regular earnings – which exclude bonuses – grew by 5.6% for the whole economy, up from 5.2% in the previous three-month period. Total earnings growth – which includes bonuses – was also 5.6%, and also up from 5.2% in the previous three months.

In real terms – adjusted for CPIH inflation – earnings growth strengthened with real-terms regular pay growth increasing by 2.5% and real-terms total pay growth increasing by 2.4%, both up from 2.3%.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector increased to 6.0% in the current three-month period, up from 5.5% in the three months to October 2024. Three sectors showed regular pay growth at 6.0%. These were finance and business services; wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants; and manufacturing – which had been showing at 5.1%, 5.7%, and 6.0% (no change) respectively. Regular earnings in the construction sector increased by 5.8%, up from 5.2%. The lowest growth rate was again seen within the public sector, where regular earnings growth fell slightly to 4.2%, down from 4.3% the previous month.

Turning to total pay growth, which includes bonuses, this was strongest in construction at 7.3%, up from 6.6% in the previous period. In manufacturing, total average earnings increased by 6.2%, up from 6.1% in the previous three-month period. In finance and business services, growth is showing at 6.1%, up from 5.5% last month. The lowest total earnings growth rate in the private sector was in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants at 5.8%, up from 5.4%. In the public sector, total pay growth was 4.2%, up from 4.1% in the previous three-month period.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

Real-terms earnings growth has strengthened, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). All three measures of average weekly earnings have increased in the three months to October 2024. Regular earnings – which excludes bonuses – grew by 5.2% for the whole economy, up from 4.9% in the previous three-month period. This uptick shows a change in the trend for the regular earnings growth figures, which have been decreasing since August 2023, some 16 months ago, when it showed at 7.9%. Average total earnings growth – which includes bonuses – was 5.2%, up from 4.4% in the previous three months.

In real terms – adjusted for CPIH inflation – earnings growth strengthened with both real-terms regular pay growth and total pay growth increasing by 2.2%, up from 1.9% and 1.5% respectively.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector increased to 5.4% in the current three-month period, up from 4.9%. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, manufacturing continues to exhibit the strongest growth in regular pay at 6.0%, down slightly from 6.1%, while regular earnings in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants increased to 5.4%, up from 5.3%. Regular earnings in the construction sector increased by 5.2%, up from 4.4%. Finance and business services regular earnings grew by 5.1%, up from 4.3%. The lowest growth rate was within the public sector, where regular earnings growth fell to 4.3%, down from 4.6% the previous month.

Total pay growth was strongest in construction at 6.6%, up from 5.5% in the previous period. In manufacturing, total average earnings increased by 6.2%, up from 5.9% in the previous three-month period. In finance and business services, growth is showing at 5.5%, up from 4.2% last month. The lowest total earnings growth rate in the private sector was in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants at 5.1%, down from 5.2%. In the public sector, total pay growth was 4.2%, up from 3.3% in the previous three-month period.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

The latest growth in regular earnings, which excludes bonuses, has continued to dip but total earnings growth rose in the three months to September 2024, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Annual growth in average regular earnings was 4.8% for the whole economy, down from 4.9% in the previous three-month period. Regular earnings growth was last lower in the three months to June 2022, when it showed at 4.7%. By contrast, average total earnings growth (which includes bonuses) was 4.3%, up from 3.9% in the previous three months.

In real terms – adjusted for CPIH inflation – earnings growth remains comparatively weak. Real-terms regular pay growth remained at 1.9% while real-terms total pay growth grew to 1.4%, up from 0.9%.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector remains at 4.8% in the previous three-month period. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, manufacturing continues to exhibit the strongest average growth in regular pay at 6.0%, while average growth in regular earnings in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants has remained steady at 5.1%. Earnings growth in finance and business services fell to 4.3%, down from 4.5%. This was the lowest growth rate, jointly with the construction sector, which is also showing at 4.3%. Within the public sector, regular earnings growth fell to 4.5%, down from 5.1%.

Total pay growth for the subsectors within the private sector shows the strongest increase in manufacturing at 5.8%, down from 6.2% in the previous period. In construction, total average earnings increased by 5.4%, up from 4.7% in the previous three-month period. In wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants, growth is showing at 4.9%, up from 4.5% last month. The lowest total growth rate was in finance and business services at 4.1%, down from 4.6%.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that both regular earnings and total earnings growth continued to dip in the three months to August 2024. Annual growth in average regular earnings (which excludes bonuses) was 4.9% for the whole economy, down from 5.1% in the previous three-month period. Regular earnings growth was last lower in the three months to June 2022, when it showed at 4.7%. Average total earnings growth (which includes bonuses) was 3.8%, down from 4.1% in the previous three months.

In real terms (adjusted for CPIH inflation) earnings growth remains weak and also slowed. Real-terms regular pay growth stands at 1.9%, down from 2.2% last month, and real-terms total pay growth fell to 0.9%, down from 1.1%.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector is showing at 4.8%, down from 5.0% – marking the continuation of a 12-month downward trend. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, manufacturing exhibited the strongest average growth in regular pay at 6.0%, average growth in regular earnings in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants is 5.1% (up from 4.7%), while earnings growth in finance and business services fell to 4.4% from 5.3%.

The lowest growth rate was again in the construction sector, at 4.2%, which strengthened very slightly from 4.1% in the three months to July. In the public sector (excluding financial services), regular pay growth weakened on the previous three-month period (when it stood at 5.7%) and is now 5.1%. 

Annual total pay growth for the subsectors within the private sector shows the strongest increase in manufacturing with growth at 6.2%, slightly down from 6.4% in the previous period. In construction, total average earnings saw growth of 4.7%, up from 3.8% in the previous three-month period. The smallest annual total growth rate was in finance and business services and wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants at 4.5%, both down from 5.2% and 4.7% respectively.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

All three measures of average weekly earnings have dipped in the three months to July 2024, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Annual growth in average regular earnings (which excludes bonuses) was 5.1% for the whole economy, down from 5.4% in the previous three-month period. Growth was last lower than this in the three months to June 2022, when it showed at 4.7%. Average total earnings growth (which includes bonuses) was 4.0%, down from 4.6% in the previous three months. The total growth rate has been affected by the NHS and civil service one-off payments made in June and July 2023. In real terms, annual growth (adjusted for CPIH inflation) has dipped on both measures. Real-terms regular pay growth decreased to 2.2%, down from 2.4% last month, and real-terms total pay growth fell to 1.1%, down from 1.6%.

Regular earnings growth in the private sector is showing at 4.9%, down from 5.3% and continuing a 12-month downward trend. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, manufacturing exhibited the strongest average growth in regular earnings at 5.9%, though this was down slightly from the previous three-month average of 6.0%. In finance and business services, average growth in regular earnings is 5.4%, down from 6.1% in the previous three-month period. Earnings growth in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants has also decreased in the latest three-month period, down to 4.7% from 5.0%.

The smallest annual regular growth rate was in the construction sector, at 3.9%, which has again risen in the three months to July and is up from 3.5% in the three months to June. In the public sector, annual average regular earnings growth is down on the previous three-month period (when it stood at 6.0%) and is now 5.7%. Meanwhile, the low total growth rate of 0.7% in the public sector is attributable to last year’s NHS bonuses in June 2023 (as discussed last month) as well as one-off payments made in the Civil Service in July 2023.

The July average total earnings growth estimate is one of the three figures used to determine the following year’s increase in the state pension. This is under an arrangement known as the ‘triple lock’ which uses the highest of three figures including inflation, average earnings and GDP, underpinned by a floor of 2.5%. The latest figure for inflation is 2.2%, the July estimate for the CPI measure of inflation. Average earnings for July stands at 4% and GDP has shown no growth in June 2024. Therefore, it is likely that the state pension will rise by 4% from April 2025. 

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

The latest average weekly earnings figures from the ONS reveal a further slight dip in regular earnings growth (ie earnings excluding bonuses) while total earnings growth appears markedly down, due in great part to one-off bonuses paid to NHS staff a year ago, while no such bonuses were forthcoming this year.

Average earnings growth for the three months to June 2024 showed at 5.4% on the regular earnings measure for the whole economy – it was last lower than this almost two years ago, when it was 5.2% for the period from May to July 2022. Meanwhile total earnings growth fell to 4.5%, compared with 5.7% in the previous three-month period and 8.2% in April to June 2023. Annual growth in real terms, adjusted for CPIH inflation, was 2.4% for regular pay and again somewhat lower for total pay, at 1.6%.

Earnings growth in the private sector is showing at 5.2%, down from 5.6%. Looking at the subsectors within the private sector in more detail, financial services exhibited the strongest average growth in regular earnings at 6.2%, however this was down from the previous three-month average of 6.7%. The smallest annual regular growth rate was in the construction sector, at 3.5%, although this is up on the 3.1% growth rate for March to May. In the public sector, annual average regular earnings growth is down on the previous three-month period (when it stood at 6.4%) but remains relatively strong at 6.0%.  

The ONS attributes much of the decline in total pay growth over this period to the fact that in June 2023, NHS staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions received two non-consolidated awards as part of the 2022/23 pay agreement: an award worth 2% of pay and a one-off ‘NHS backlog bonus’ worth between £1,250 and £1,600. By contrast the NHS pay awards for 2023/24 and 2024/25 were consolidated and would therefore have much less influence on total earnings growth. As a consequence, total pay growth for the public sector (excluding financial services) for the three months to June 2024 is showing at just 1.8%, compared with 10.8% a year previously. The strongest total pay growth was in manufacturing, at 6.7% (regular pay growth for this subsector for the same period was 6.0%). 

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

There was a slight dip in average weekly earnings on both measures in the three months to May 2024, while real-terms growth held steady. Annual growth in average regular earnings (ie not including bonuses) was 5.7% for the whole economy, down from 6.0% in the previous three-month period. Growth was last lower than this in the three months to August 2022, when it showed at 5.4%. Average total earnings growth (ie including bonuses) was likewise 5.7% (down from 5.9% in the previous three-month period); it was last lower than this – at 5.6% – in the three months to January 2024.

While average earnings growth has dipped slightly on both measures, the ONS nonetheless still considers the current rates of growth to be ‘relatively strong’, which they are in recent historical terms. Meanwhile in real terms, annual growth (adjusted for CPIH inflation) in total pay held steady at 2.2%, and was up slightly, from 2.4% to 2.5%, for regular pay. It was last higher in the summer of 2021, just as inflation was starting to rise. 

Annual average regular earnings growth for the private sector was 5.6% – this is down from 5.9% in the previous period and was last lower than this (at 5.4%) in the three months from April to June 2022. Total earnings growth in the private sector was at a similar level of 5.5% (likewise down from 5.9% in the three months to April).

Earnings growth was stronger in the public sector than in the private sector in the latest period. Annual average regular earnings growth for the public sector (excluding financial services) remains strong, showing at 6.4%, up from 6.3% in the two previous months. Total earnings growth in the public sector was at a similar level (6.3%). This pattern is in keeping with a cycle frequently observed in earnings comparisons between the two sectors, whereby pay in the private sector moves ahead and the public sector eventually catches up, and then stays ahead for a time while private sector growth weakens.

The largest annual growth rate in regular pay was in finance and business services, at 6.7% – although this is down on the previous period’s figure of 6.9%. Manufacturing saw a fall from 6.6% to 6.2% and in wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants annual growth in regular earnings was 5.5%, compared with 5.8% in the three months to April. Once again, the construction sector saw the lowest rate of annual growth in average regular earnings – 3.0%, the same as the previous three-month period. 

A similar sectoral picture is observed for annual total pay growth: this held steady at 7.0% in finance and business services and was down to 1.7% (from 2.2% in the three months to April) in construction.

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

Annual growth in both regular and total weekly earnings has remained steady for the three months to April. Across the whole economy, annual growth in regular earnings, which excludes bonuses, is still showing at 6.0% while total earnings growth was 5.9%. However, with successive falls in inflation, real-terms earnings growth (where figures are adjusted for inflation, based on the CPIH measure) has risen once again, with regular pay growth increasing by 2.3% and total pay by 1.7%.

Regular pay growth in the private sector has fallen very slightly again this month, from 5.9% to 5.8%, and remains at 6.3% in the public sector (excluding financial services). The finance and business services sector has seen the strongest regular pay growth, at 6.9%, up slightly from 6.8% last month, while regular pay growth in manufacturing is also high, at 6.5%. The lowest growth rate is in construction, at 2.9%, but this is up on the previous month’s rate. 

The strongest growth in total pay, which includes bonus payments, can again be seen in the finance and business services sector, where it is likewise showing at 6.9%; this is partly attributable to the fact that March tends to be the peak bonus month for the sector. Average weekly bonus payments in finance and business services were worth £109 in the three months to April. Meanwhile total pay growth in the construction sector has seen a further decline, to 2.1%, down from 2.3% last month. Meanwhile in manufacturing, total pay growth is showing at 6.5%, the same as for regular pay, and this is up from 6.2% last month. 

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.

Following a period in which earnings growth had been trending downwards, there has been no change to overall average weekly earnings growth for the three months to March. Across the whole economy, annual growth in regular earnings remains at 6.0% while total earnings growth (the measure that includes variable elements such as bonuses – for which March is a peak month) is still at 5.7%. However, adjusting for inflation (using CPIH) shows an increase in real terms pay growth, with regular pay increasing by 2.0% and total pay by 1.7% – up from 1.9% and 1.6% respectively the previous month. 

Regular pay growth in the private sector is slightly down, from 6.0% to 5.9%, while growth in the public sector has risen from 6.1% to 6.3%. This rate was last lower in the three months to June 2022, when it showed at 5.4%. The largest annual regular growth rates, both 6.8%, were in the manufacturing and financial and business services sectors – this represents no change in the rate in the former sector and a small increase of 0.1 percentage point in the latter. Meanwhile growth is showing at just 2.6% in construction, down from 3.1% the previous month.

March is typically the peak month for bonuses and average growth in total pay, which includes such elements, remains steady at 5.7% despite record total average bonus payouts in March 2024 (up marginally on the values for the previous March). The highest average bonus payments were in the financial and business services sector, while bonuses in both construction and wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants were lower than in March 2023. The highest growth in average total earnings was likewise found in the financial and business services sector, at 6.3% compared with 5.8% last month. Total earnings growth also rose in the public sector (6.2%) and manufacturing (6.0%). By contrast, the construction sector saw a fall from 4.3% for the three months to February to just 2.1% in the latest figures. 

Figures correct at time of writing. The ONS sometimes publishes revisions to its Average Weekly Earnings data series; for the most up-to-date figures see its latest and previous releases on the ONS website.