Earnings
Earnings statistics vary with regard to periodicity of the data collection (biannual, annual and four-yearly), coverage (economic activity, enterprise size) and units of measurement (hourly, monthly or yearly earnings).
Concepts and definitions
Results of the 4-yearly structure of earnings surveys (SES) provide comparable EU-level information on relationships between earnings, employee, and their employer.
The available data include information on employee characteristics:
- sex
- age
- occupation
- length of service
- educational level
As well as their employer characteristics:
- economic activity
- size of enterprise
The SES covers, on a mandatory basis, business units with 10 and more employees and all economic activities, except agriculture, fishing, private households, and extra-territorial organisations. The data for public administration is collected on a voluntary basis.
Data transmission, availability, and dissemination
The EU SES are carried out every 4 years. The available reference years are 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. The next survey’s reference year is 2022.
Data are available broken down by economic activity and enterprise size. Regional data is also provided according to the NUTS-classification.
Data become available approximately 2 years after the end of the reference year.
Access to microdata is granted to researchers according to specific conditions and respecting statistical confidentiality. For more information, visit our section on microdata access.
Data quality
Information can be found in the metadata on the structure of earnings survey - main indicators and through the national quality reports available in the same document.
Concepts and definitions
Annual net earnings must be converted from annual gross earnings by deducting income taxes and employees' social security contributions from gross annual earnings, then adding family allowances.
The amount of these components, and therefore the ratio of net to gross earnings, depends on the workers individual situation. Different family situations are considered, all referring to an ‘average worker’. There are differences based on whether they are single or married, how many people in each household earn money (only for couples) and number of dependent children.
Tax rate indicators such as the tax wedge on labour costs, unemployment trap and low wage trap are based on annual average gross and net earnings. They aim to assess the attractiveness of a job. The tax rate indicators are calculated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) according to a generally-accepted model.
Data transmission, availability, and dissemination
Annual net earnings are collected according to a ‘gentlemen's agreement’, meaning not based on legislation. Data become available approximately 12 months after the end of the reference period.
Data quality
Information can be found in the metadata on the net earnings and tax rates and through the national quality reports available in the same document.
Concepts and definitions
The unadjusted Gender Pay Gap (GPG) is the difference between average gross hourly earnings of men and women. This is expressed as a percentage of the average gross hourly earnings of men.
Data transmission, availability, and dissemination
The GPG data is based on the methodology of the Structure of Earnings Survey (SES). GPG data are released about 12 months after the end of the reference period.
Data quality
Information can be found in the metadata on the gender pay gap in unadjusted forms and through the national quality reports available in the same document.
Concepts and definitions
Minimum wage statistics refer to minimum wages set by national legislation and applicable to the majority of full-time salaried workers in each country.
Data transmission, availability and dissemination
According to a ‘gentlemen's agreement’, meaning not based on legislation. Data is provided biannually to Eurostat, in January and in July.
Data quality
Information can be found in the metadata on the minimum wages and through the national quality reports available in the same document.