Around two in five employers are also giving their workforce some sort of bonus this year to ease the impact of high inflation, employers organisation AWVN said on Monday.

In around half of cases, the bonus is for €500 or more and in 60% the bonus is being paid to everyone across the company, regardless of income.

The bonuses come on top of any annual bonus scheme agreed in pay deals.

Some employers are also offering staff improved travel expenses, a pay rise or the option to work more hours.

The AWVN also said on Monday that pay deals agreed in November included an average rise of 6.4%, as the upward trend over the year continued. However, the figure is based only a handful of new agreements.

The November figure takes the average rise over the year so far to 3.6%.