Earnings disparities across European countries and regions

This publication presents national and regional results of the recent European Structure of Earnings Survey carried out for the reference year 2002. The survey provided detailed information on earnings of approximately 7.9 million employees, their individual characteristics and the enterprise to which they belong. By summer 2005, Eurostat had received data from 24 out of the 25 Member States as well as from Bulgaria, Romania, Iceland and Norway. For the aggregate ‘industry and services’, the level of gross earnings and earnings disparities vary significantly across European countries and regions. The overall picture drawn for this aggregate may however differ considerably for individual economic activities. This is illustrated by means of the financial sector.