Earnings

3rd quarter of 2009: higher real earnings due to both increasing earnings and declining prices

Real earnings increased an average 0.6% in the third quarter of 2009 on the same quarter a year earlier. After a decline in the previous two quarters, this was the first rise in 2009. Gross monthly earnings were up 0.4% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter a year earlier, while consumer prices were down 0.2% in the same period.

Index of real earnings

Earnings by occupations

Full-time employees in industry, wholesale and retail trade and financial intermediation earned an average amount of EUR 64.41 from gross earnings of EUR 100 in 2006, after the deduction of wage tax and social security contributions. This roughly corresponds with the survey results for 1995 and 2001 (EUR 65.23 and EUR 64.77, respectively). The social security contribution rates for employees rose from 19.7% in 1995 to 20.4% in 2001 and to 21.4% in 2006.