Female employees are at particular risk of low pay in Ireland, according to the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI).

Some 29.3% of the female workforce are on low pay, meaning that essentially three out of every 10 women earn less than €11.45 per hour.

The majority are working in wholesale and retail (24%), accommodation and food (19.7%) and health and social work (18.4%), while almost one-quarter of low-paid female workers are based in Dublin.

When it comes to the gender disparity, NERI found that six out of 10 low paid workers in the country are female – some 207,000 women.

Overall, NERI's quarterly economic observer forecast improvements.

Economic growth is set to continue, with GDP set to rise 4.4% this year and a further 3.5% for 2017.

Average hourly earnings should rise by 2% across the board.