Monthly Wages and Salary Survey
The Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey (MWSS) collects information about staff wages and salaries from businesses in Great Britain. Businesses receive a questionnaire asking for information on all full or part-time employees who received pay or a salary in a given period, including details of bonuses, overtime, holiday pay and arrears.
MWSS results are used to compile average earnings figures, including the Average Earnings Index (AEI) and Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) data, both published by ONS. The AEI measures changes in the level of earnings in Great Britain and is an important measure of wage inflation. Government bodies such as HM Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry use the AEI in their analyses of the economy, while the Bank of England use it in conjunction with a number of other indicators when setting interest rates. Private companies also use the AEI to help reach pay agreements.
