Finns find salaries in several public sector occupations loo low
Helsinki (16.03.2007 / edited 17.03.2007 - Juhani Artto) What are the average monthly earnings (in full-time work) for nurses? What should they be?
The earnings of nurses and nine other employee groups were treated in this way in the opinion survey, published last week by the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL. Nine of the ten occupations, covered by the survey, are common to the public sector.
Before the questions were posed, the interviewees were told that in Finland the average monthly earnings of wage and salary earners are over EUR2,500.
Interestingly, Finns seem to have rather realistic picture of the earnings.
Still more interesting is that
replies to the question "How much are the average monthly earnings of ..." came close to the basic pay
and replies to the question "How much should the average monthly earnings of ... be" came close to the total earnings.
As the table below indicates, there is, in all ten occupations, a considerable difference between the average basic pay and the average total earnings. The latter includes overtime pay, working hour supplements, fringe benefits, performance-based bonuses and several other one-off items.
Among nurses the difference is almost EUR600 per month. The average difference between basic pay and total earnings of all ten occupations is over EUR330 per month.
For employees in nine of the ten occupations Finns support an average pay rise of EUR217 per month. This can be concluded from a comparison between the interviewees' idea of "proper pay" and the total earnings of the employees. Private child minders top the list with people recommending a EUR339 per month pay rise for them.
The tenth group, home care assistants, proves to be the exception. The interviewees find their total earnings to exceed the "proper pay" deserved by them, by EUR21 per month.
Results of JHL's opinion survey show that Finnish citizens share the union's claim that pay levels for public sector employees is too low. People, as well as the union, clearly regard the value of work performed by child minders, library clerks, building caretakers, nurses etc. as being worth more than their earnings indicate. Thus the results give valuable backing for the union in its collective bargaining efforts in the near future.
In the last few months' of the election campaigns, politicians have largely agreed with the need to raise the pay level of public health care employees. However, economists have reminded everyone that the budget framework does not allow for significant pay rises for any large group of public sector employees.
In eight of the ten occupations there is a considerable female majority. Therefore the debate about the pay level in these occupations has also had a strong gender dimension. Women are in majority also among youth leaders. Of the ten occupational groups only building caretakers are mostly men.
| Basic pay (e/month) | Total earnings (e/month) | "Present pay" in Finns' minds (e/month) | "Proper pay" in Finns' minds (e/month) | |
| Nurse Sairaanhoitaja | 1 835 | 2 422 | 2 093 | 2 532 |
| Practical nurse Lähihoitaja | 1 613 | 2 016 | 1 824 | 2 234 |
| Assistant nurse Sairaala-apulainen | 1 456 | 1 829 | 1 691 | 1 999 |
| Kindergarten assistant Lastenhoitaja | 1 609 | 1 862 | 1 762 | 2 102 |
| Private childminder Perhepäivähoitaja | 1 408 | 1 674 | 1 653 | 2 013 |
| Home care assistant Kodinhoitaja | 1 621 | 2 014 | 1 688 | 1 993 |
| School assistant Koulunkäyntiavustaja | 1 527 | 1 649 | 1 595 | 1 864 |
| Youth leader Nuoriso-ohjaaja | 1 659 | 1 920 | 1 778 | 2 035 |
| Library clerk Kirjastovirkailija | 1 569 | 1 767 | 1 856 | 2 046 |
| Building caretaker Kiinteistönhoitaja | 1 524 | 1 886 | 1 988 | 2 154 |
The table is produced by Statistics Finland. The basic pay and total earnings concern October 2006. The opinion survey figures are based on interviews, in February 2007, with 1,000 Finns (from 15 to 75 years of age).
