Do you receive a fair salary? Pay worries divide Europeans

The conception of fairness is critically important successful an era defined by accelerated technological advancements, economical fluctuations, and societal transformations, according to nan ‘Investing successful Fairness’ study published by nan European Commission. Salary is 1 of nan astir important aspects of this goal, pinch labor keen to person due compensation for their work.

Receiving a adjacent net based connected skills and acquisition supports the EU’s committedness to promoting societal justness and equality. However, two-thirds (67%) of group successful nan EU are concerned astir not receiving a adjacent net based connected their skillset and experience. “This highlights nan value of adjacent compensation for work,” nan study says. 

Worries astir not receiving a adjacent net to meet family needs alteration wide crossed Europe. According to nan Eurobarometer study successful nan report, it ranges from 19% successful Denmark to 86% successful Portugal and Cyprus.

In 22 EU countries, astatine slightest half of respondents are worried astir not receiving a adjacent salary.

The interest level represents respondents who are either ‘very worried’ aliases ‘fairly worried’. A elaborate breakdown of interest levels is shown successful different floor plan below.

Southern Europe vs Nordic countries

In general, geographical patterns look erstwhile examining nan levels of worry. People successful Southern and Eastern Europe definitive higher interest astir costs fairness, while those successful Northern and Western Europe, successful peculiar nan Nordic countries, study little levels of concern.

The highest levels of interest are intelligibly seen successful Southern Europe. These see Portugal (86%), Cyprus (86%), Greece (85%), Italy (84%), Croatia (83%), and Spain (81%).

In contrast, 3 Nordic countries and nan Netherlands study nan lowest worries astir net fairness: Denmark (19%), Sweden (26%), Netherlands (28%), and Finland (34%). These levels are importantly little than nan EU average, pointing to nan population's spot successful societal justness and equality. 

Germany (56%) and Ireland (59%) are still beneath nan EU mean but notably higher than nan 4 countries astatine nan bottom.

This makes Germany nan slightest worried federation astir adjacent salary among nan EU’s apical 4 economies, while Italy and Spain rank successful nan highest group. France is besides supra nan EU mean astatine 73%.

Looking astatine nan breakdown of interest levels, much than half of group successful 3 countries are ‘very worried’ astir not receiving a adjacent net based connected their skills and experience. They are Cyprus (59%), Portugal (55%) and Spain (54%).

The proportionality of group who are ‘very worried’ is besides 40% aliases higher successful 3 much countries: Croatia (47%), Greece (45%), and Italy (40%). 

All six countries are located successful Southern Europe.

In nan EU, astir one-third study being very worried (30%), while somewhat much than one-third consciousness reasonably worried (37%).

Share of group not worried astir adjacent pay

By contrast, astir one-third of respondents (31%) successful nan EU opportunity they are not worried astir receiving a adjacent net based connected their skills and experience. Among them, 1 5th (20%) are not very worried, and somewhat much than 1 tenth (11%) are not worried astatine all.

Do gender and property matter?

Gender does not play a important domiciled successful nan level of interest astir adjacent salary, arsenic nan quality is only 3 percent points (69% vs. 66%). The aforesaid holds existent for property groups up to 54, each astatine astir 74%, whereas nan fig falls to 57% among those aged 55 and over.

Correlation betwixt income and interest levels

There is simply a mean antagonistic relationship betwixt yearly nett net and interest levels. This intends that interest tends to alteration arsenic income increases. 

However, nan relationship is not beardown and explains only astir 30% of nan differences betwixt countries. The floor plan besides shows that immoderate countries pinch akin income levels person importantly different interest levels.

The relationship is somewhat weaker erstwhile yearly nett net successful PPS (Purchasing Power Standard) are used. This allows for amended comparison crossed countries by removing value differences.

The study was conducted successful January and February 2025.