According to a study by the European HR company SDWorx, conducted among 16,000 employees, the most undervalued workers are in the Balkans. The happiest workers live in Belgium and the Netherlands. Overall, nearly half of European employees (49%) believe they are underpaid.
According to a study by the pan-European HR company SDWorx, conducted in 16 European countries and 15 sectors among 16,000 employees, the most undervalued workers are in the Balkans.
Most citizens of Slovenia (60%), Serbia (59%), and Croatia (58%) say they do not receive what they deserve.
When considering this issue by sectors, the most dissatisfied workers in Europe are in healthcare (56.5%) and education (54%).
In a mixed ranking, healthcare workers in Slovenia lead (74.7%), followed by hospitality workers in Germany (73%) and education specialists in Sweden (72.7%).
The happiest workers live in Belgium and the Netherlands: here, more than 60% say they are satisfied with their salary. The Netherlands stands out particularly, where three groups complain the least about their salaries: administrators and support services (14.5%), utility workers (16.8%), and civil servants (22.8%).
Are most Europeans satisfied with their salaries? It depends on the circumstances
Overall, nearly half of European workers (49%) believe they are underpaid.
The exception is workers from Belgium and the Netherlands, where more than 60% say they earn enough. In third place are Romanians (58%), followed by the British, 57% of whom say they earn enough.
At the same time, British and Irish employers consider themselves much more generous than their employees think. The gap between what employers and employees consider a "fair salary" in both countries is 21 percentage points, the largest figure in the study.
In the breakdown by economic sectors, the most dissatisfied workers are in healthcare (56.5%), education (54%), and manufacturing (51%).
The least complaints come from the finance, construction, and administrative services sectors - just under 45%.
Gender Pay Gap
Women report dissatisfaction with their salaries slightly more often than men: 51.5% versus 46.8%. Exceptions are Spain, Germany, and the UK, where more men than women complain about being underpaid.
The largest pay gap between men and women, up to 14%, is observed in Finland, Croatia, and France.
Although German workers, both men and women, report equal satisfaction with their salaries, according to Eurostat, this country ranks fourth in Europe for the gender pay gap at 17.6%.
Croatia also demonstrates a discrepancy between perception and reality. Although this country ranks second for perceived gender inequality, the actual pay gap here is one of the lowest in Europe: 7.4%.
Employer's Perspective: What Issues Need to Be Addressed First?
When the same question is posed to employers, 64% of them claim they pay fairly. Where in Europe is the contrast most noticeable?
For example, in Finland, only a quarter of employers acknowledge the existence of this problem, while the average across Europe is not much higher - only 35%, according to SD Worx.
Improving "diversity, equity, and inclusion" is not a top priority for most employers, ranking only 15th among the most pressing HR issues.
Their priorities, in their opinion, are "employee well-being," "retention and turnover," "recruitment," "employee engagement," "compensation and benefits," "hybrid work," and "internal communication and transparency." They care the least about personal branding, which ranks last out of 26.
