1. Main points for June to August 2023
Annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8% in June to August 2023, similar to recent periods and one of the highest regular annual growth rates since comparable records began in 2001.
Annual growth in employees' average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.1% in June to August 2023; this total growth rate is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off payments made in June, July and August 2023.
Annual growth in real terms (adjusted for inflation using Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH)) for total pay rose on the year by 1.3% in June to August 2023, and for regular pay rose on the year by 1.1%.
Annual average regular pay growth for the public sector was 6.8% in June to August 2023 and is the highest regular annual growth rate since comparable records began in 2001; for the private sector this was 8.0% and among the largest annual growth rates seen outside of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period.
The finance and business services sector saw the largest annual regular growth rate at 9.6%, followed by the manufacturing sector at 8.0%; this is one of the highest annual regular growth rates for the manufacturing sector since comparable records began in 2001.
The estimates in this bulletin come from a survey of businesses. It is not possible to survey every business each month, so these statistics are estimates based on a sample, not precise figures.
2. Analysis of average weekly earnings
Figure 1: Average weekly earnings for total pay were £661 and for regular pay were £619 in August 2023, showing a steady increase over time (except for early on in the coronavirus pandemic)
Average weekly earnings in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted, January 2000 to August 2023
Source: Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Figure 1: Average weekly earnings for total pay were £661 and for regular pay were £619 in August 2023, showing a steady increase over time (except for early on in the coronavirus pandemic)
Image .csv .xls
Figure 2: Annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) is similar to the previous period and one of the highest seen since comparable records began in 2001
Average weekly earnings annual growth rates in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted, January to March 2001 to June to August 2023
Source: Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Figure 2: Annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) is similar to the previous period and one of the highest seen since comparable records began in 2001
Image .csv .xlsThe annual growth for regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8% in June to August 2023. This is similar to recent periods and one of the highest annual growth rates since comparable records began in 2001.
Annual growth in employees' average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.1% in June to August 2023. This is one of the largest annual growth rates seen outside of the coronavirus pandemic period. However, this total pay annual growth rate is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off non-consolidated payments made in June, July and August 2023. See the sector and industry section for further details.
In real terms (adjusted for inflation using Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH)), in June to August 2023, total real pay rose by 1.3% on the year. It was last higher in January to March 2022 when it was 1.4%. Regular real pay rose by 1.1% on the year; it was last higher in July to September 2021 when it rose by 2.2%.
Figure 3: Real pay shows a positive annual growth rate for August 2023
Real average weekly earnings single-month annual growth rates in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted, and CPIH annual rate, January 2001 to August 2023
Source: Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey, and Consumer price inflation from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Figure 3: Real pay shows a positive annual growth rate for August 2023
Image .csv .xlsGiven higher Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) inflation over the past 18 months, real pay has fallen on the year as inflation has started to reduce. We are now seeing real growth return to increasing on the year. Figure 3 shows a comparison of monthly real total and regular pay growth rates and monthly inflation. For June to August 2023, CPIH was an average of 6.7%.
Our headline measure of inflation is CPIH. However, we also publish our supplementary Real average weekly earnings using consumer price inflation (CPI) dataset, excluding owner occupiers' housing costs. Using CPI real earnings, in June to August 2023, total pay rose by 0.8% on the year and regular pay rose by 0.7% on the year.
The Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK bulletin also provides additional insights into the estimate of growth in median and mean pay, and the two data sources generally trend well for mean total pay. A more timely estimate of median pay is also provided but is subject to revisions.
Sector and industry
Figure 4: For the latest period both the private and public sector have seen strong annual regular pay growth, with the public sector seeing the highest growth rate since records began
Average weekly earnings annual growth rates for total pay (including bonuses) and regular pay by public and private sector in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted, January to March 2001 to June to August 2023
Source: Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Figure 4: For the latest period both the private and public sector have seen strong annual regular pay growth, with the public sector seeing the highest growth rate since records began
Image .csv .xlsAnnual average regular pay growth for the public sector was 6.8% in June to August 2023 and is the highest regular pay annual growth rate since comparable records began in 2001 (Figure 4). For the private sector this was 8.0%. This is one of the largest annual regular growth rates seen outside of the coronavirus pandemic period, when the growth rate peaked at 8.4% in April to June 2021 because the data were affected by compositional and base effects.
Annual average total pay growth for the private sector was 7.1% in June to August 2023. For the public sector, this was 12.5% and is the highest total pay annual growth rate since comparable records began in 2001. However, this is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off non-consolidated payments made in June, July and August 2023.
In June 2023, the NHS pay deal in England was announced. This set out that NHS workers were to be given a pay award for 2023 to 2024 and two one-off non-consolidated bonus pay awards. In addition, the civil service announced a one-off non-consolidated pay award for 2023 to 2024, which was mainly paid out in July 2023. This, alongside the NHS pay deal in June 2023, will account for a large bonus being present in total pay in June 2023 for the health and social industry and the public sector, and in July and August 2023 for the public administration industry and the public sector. These all show a spike in bonus payments, which has never been seen before. The 2023 to 2024 NHS pay award arrears are also collected but our headline estimates exclude arrears payments.
Figure 5: In the latest period the finance and business services sector saw the largest annual regular pay growth rate
Average weekly earnings annual growth rates for regular pay by sector in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted, November 2017 to January 2018 to June to August 2023
Source: Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Figure 5: In the latest period the finance and business services sector saw the largest annual regular pay growth rate
Image .csv .xlsIn June to August 2023, the finance and business services sector saw the largest annual regular pay growth rate at 9.6%. This is the largest we have seen outside of the coronavirus pandemic period. The manufacturing sector followed at 8.0%. This is one of the highest annual growth rates we have seen for the manufacturing sector since comparable records began in 2001 (Figure 5).
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3. Average weekly earnings data
Average weekly earnings
Dataset EARN01 | Released 17 October 2023
Average weekly earnings at sector level headline estimates, Great Britain, monthly, seasonally adjusted. Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey.
Average weekly earnings by sector
Dataset EARN02 | Released 17 October 2023
Average weekly earnings at sector level including manufacturing, finance and services, Great Britain, monthly, non-seasonally adjusted. Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey.
Average weekly earnings by industry
Dataset EARN03 | Released 17 October 2023
Average weekly earnings at industry level including manufacturing, construction and energy, Great Britain, monthly, non-seasonally adjusted. Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey.
Real Average weekly earnings using Consumer price inflation
Dataset X09 | Released 17 October 2023
Average weekly earnings for the whole economy, for total and regular pay, in real terms (adjusted for consumer price inflation), UK, monthly, seasonally adjusted.
4. Glossary
Average Weekly Earnings (AWE)
As explained in Section 2 of our Guide to labour market statistics methodology, average weekly earnings (AWE) is the lead monthly measure of average weekly earnings per employee. It is calculated using information based on the Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey (MWSS), which samples around 9,000 employers in Great Britain.
The estimates are not just a measure of pay rises. They do not, for example, adjust for changes in the proportion of the workforce who work full time or part time, or other compositional changes within the workforce. The estimates do not include earnings of self-employed people.
Estimates are available for both total pay (which includes bonus payments) and regular pay (which excludes bonus payments). Estimates are available in both nominal terms (not adjusted for inflation) and real terms (adjusted for inflation).
Estimates of pay growth are also published using HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) data in the Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK bulletin.
The HMRC estimates are presented in median pay terms, but they also include mean pay, as does AWE. There are some differences between the sources, most notably that the HMRC estimates include arrears payments and any redundancy payments that are made through payroll. Further detail is provided in our Comparison of labour market data sources methodology.
Bonus
A bonus is a form of reward or recognition granted by an employer in addition to basic pay. When an employee receives a bonus payment, there is no expectation or assumption that the bonus will be used to cover any specific expense. The value and timing of a bonus payment can be at the discretion of the employer or stipulated in workplace agreements.
Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs
As of 21 March 2017, the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), as detailed in our quality and methodology information (QMI) became our lead measure of inflation. It is our most comprehensive measure of UK consumer price inflation.
Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey
The Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey (MWSS) is a survey through which we collect information on wages and salaries. It is distributed monthly to around 9,000 employers, covering around 12.8 million employees.
A more detailed glossary is available.
Back to table of contents5. Measuring the data
This section provides more detail around the methodology of the survey. Further information on this is available in our Average weekly earnings quality and methodology information (QMI).
The survey response rate was 84% in August 2023.
Real earnings
Real average weekly earnings (AWE) are calculated as non-seasonally adjusted AWE (shown in our accompanying EARN02: Average weekly earnings by sector dataset) divided by the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), which is our preferred measure of consumer price inflation (as shown in our CPIH Index time series L522). The ratio is then referenced as an index with 2015 equals 100, and seasonally adjusted.
We also publish our accompanying X09: Real Average weekly earnings using Consumer price inflation (CPI) dataset for the whole economy and for both total and regular pay. Our recommended measure of CPI is CPIH, and our headline estimates using this measure are found in our accompanying EARN01: Average weekly earnings dataset. These data have been compiled using the CPI as a supplementary dataset to view alongside the headline estimates produced using the CPIH.
Arrears payment
Pay award arrears are collected separately on the questionnaire; this specifically covers earnings arising from a backdated pay increase, not late payment of overtime or bonuses. Arrears payments are reflected in estimates at the time they were paid, and not in the period they are awarded for. Therefore, backseries are not revised. The AWE headline estimates exclude arrears payments.
Seasonal adjustment
Total pay, bonus pay and regular pay (excluding bonuses) for each sector (a total of 27 series) are seasonally adjusted using X13-ARIMA. Percentage changes are then derived from the seasonally adjusted average pay series.
Each of the 27 series is seasonally adjusted separately, to ensure the optimum seasonal adjustment of each series. The result of this is that relationships that hold in the unadjusted series do not necessarily hold for the seasonally adjusted series. For example, before seasonal adjustment, regular pay plus bonus pay equalled total pay, whereas after seasonal adjustment, they are not necessarily equal.
When there is an exceptionally large change in the series, this can lead to larger differences between regular pay plus bonus pay, and total pay. We saw this in March 2021 and 2020, when the bonus payments pattern changed during the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, the direct seasonal adjustment method, which allows for evolving seasonality, caused a larger than normal difference. This is supported by other similar instances such as in January and February 2009.
Where one-off shocks are present in the data, these are taken into account during the seasonal adjustment process. This was applied in June 2023 to the public sector bonus payments.
In line with international guidance, we annually review the seasonal adjustment parameters and open up the whole time series for revision, as outlined in our Average weekly earnings QMI. This was last reviewed in September 2023 and led to revisions to the historical AWE time series, extending back throughout the entire time series.
Revisions
AWE are generally published on a provisional basis around six to seven weeks after the end of the month in question, although sometimes a week later in the months following Christmas and Easter. The unadjusted estimates are finalised the following month (10 to 11 weeks after the end of the reference period). Seasonally adjusted estimates are subject to further revisions at later dates (see Revisions Policy in our Average weekly earnings QMI).
Interpreting average earnings – base and compositional effects
Interpreting average earnings data over the last year has been difficult. Our How COVID-19 has impacted the Average Weekly Earnings data blog post explains the complexities of interpreting these data. There were temporary factors that we refer to as base and compositional effects.
The base effect refers to comparing two periods with different circumstances. Throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, different scenarios have affected the base effect. More information on base effects can be found in our Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: May 2022 bulletin.
The compositional effect means pay growth has been affected by a changing composition of employee jobs, which during the coronavirus pandemic had increased average pay. The latest data show that the composition effect is now at more normal levels, and we are no longer seeing the excessive levels we saw during periods of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Our How furlough and changes in the employee workforce have affected earnings growth during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, UK: 2020 to 2021 article looks in more detail at the impact of compositional effects on wage growth.
Following the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the change in pay growth was heavily affected by a changing composition of employee jobs, where we saw a fall in the number and proportion of lower-paid employee jobs. This changing composition naturally increased average pay and should be kept in mind when interpreting average pay growth. Changes in the profile of employee jobs in the economy will affect average pay growth. A decrease in employee numbers in jobs that have lower pay can have an upward effect on average pay, and the other way around.
More information on the compositional effect on the data is available in Section 10: Measuring the data of the Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK: May 2022 bulletin.
Sampling variability for average weekly earnings single-month growth rates in percentage points is also available in our previous release, Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: April 2022.
For more information about some of the main differences between our data sources, see our Comparison of labour market data sources methodology.
For more information on measuring the data, see our Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: April 2021 bulletin.
Making our published spreadsheets accessible
Following the Government Statistical Service (GSS) guidance on releasing statistics in spreadsheets, we will be amending our published tables over the coming months to improve usability, accessibility and machine readability of our published statistics. To help users change to the new formats, we will be publishing sample versions of a selection of our tables. Where practical, we will initially publish the tables in both the new and current formats. If you have any questions or comments, please email labour.market@ons.gov.uk.
Back to table of contents6. Strengths and limitations
Information on the strengths and limitations of this bulletin is available in:
our Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: April 2021 bulletin
the Government Statistical Service Income and earnings interactive dashboard
8. Cite this statistical bulletin
Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 17 October 2023, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: October 2023