Ireland rated 14th in relative employee earnings table

According to a new report from Federation of European Employer’s (FedEE), the pay gap between Europe's richest and poorest countries has fallen significantly over the past six years.
Employees in Denmark are the highest earning, while Moldovan employees sit at the bottom of the table of 48 countries. The Pay in Europe 2007 report states gross median hourly earnings of employees in Denmark were 65 times (65x) higher than in Moldova on February 1st 2007. This compares with a pay gap of 70x in 2006 and 91x in 2001. Since 2001, all countries in the bottom half of the FedEE league table, except Poland and Portugal, have been able to narrow the gap with Denmark.
The report also reveals differences in pay between those in senior management positions and those in unskilled service sector positions within individual countries. This differential varies from 12.9x in Moldova and 11x in Latvia to just 3.9x in Norway and 4.1x in Malta.
At the higher end of the league table, there have been falls in relative earnings in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK. Norway has now taken the number two spot from Luxembourg, with relative earnings climbing from 71 per cent of Denmark's in 2001 to 90 per cent in 2007.
Ireland sits in 14th place in the table, behind Finland and the Faroe Islands, but ahead of Belgium and the United Kingdom.
The report reveals differences in pay between those in senior management positions and those in unskilled service sector positions within individual countries. This differential varies from 12.9x in Moldova and 11x in Latvia to just 3.9x in Norway and 4.1x in Malta and 4.4 in Ireland.
In the category of a Skilled Manual Workman, working in a large or foreign-owned firm, the following are comparative hourly rates in euro: Ireland €16.04; Sweden €17.34; Poland €3.43 and Moldovia 45 cent.
The Pay in Europe 2007 report provides benchmark salary data for 48 European countries. Each table contains 32 standard job positions within two categories of company size or type.
The tables can be used to produce a framework for pay relativities and an initial market guide when establishing a new operation in a particular European country. They will also be of value to those with established operations who require an objective reference point during pay negotiations, annual reviews or for general salary administration purposes.
The Federation of European Employers (FedEE) is the leading organisation for multinational employers operating across Europe.