Patterns of pay: results of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 1997 to 2008

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the most detailed and comprehensive source of information on levels of earnings, make-up of total earnings and distribution of the earnings of individual employees. The first few sections of this article present summary analyses (overall medians, make-up and distribution of earnings) from the results of the 2008 ASHE, comparing them with the 2007 results (and where relevant the 1997 to 2007 back series). While these figures are of interest, they can hide wide variations between different industries, occupations, regions and age groups. The concluding sections of the article give summary analyses of each of these factors. Economic & Labour Market Review (2009) 3, 24–32; doi:10.1057/elmr.2009.41