Helsinki (11.05.2009 - Juhani Artto) In 2007, foreign citizens earned on average, 5.8 per cent less than Finnish citizens in the Finnish labour market. Finns made, on average, EUR 2,737 per month, and foreigners EUR 2,579.
The gap was largest in the private sector (7.7 per cent) and narrowest in the municipal sector (3.1 per cent). State employees were placed between those two sectors. In the municipal sector the pay gap between Finnish and foreign citizens narrowed slightly from 2001 to 2007. In the same period, the pay gap clearly increased in the private and state sectors.
About half of the 5.8 per cent pay gap is explained by differences in the job structures of Finns and foreigners. The remaining half may indicate unfair treatment of foreigners and/or foreigners being forced to have "lower" jobs than their educational background would allow.
Foreign drivers and cooks earned relatively well
In certain jobs, foreigners earned, on average, more than Finnish citizens. This was the situation among bus drivers. Foreigners made 16 per cent more than Finns. It was mainly due to foreign drivers having worked more than Finns in evening, night and weekend shifts and thus having received a larger provision of the respective allowances. Foreign drivers also made more than Finns in terms of overtime hours, which meant more overtime compensation for immigrant drivers.
In 2006, drivers, cleaners and shop assistants constituted the largest groups making up immigrant labour. There was also considerable foreign labour in the construction industry, where most foreigners worked under temporary employment relations.
In the category "cooks, cookers and cold buffet managers" foreigners had a 7 per cent higher average income than Finnish citizens. Antti Katainen from the Statistics Finland explains the difference by the high provision of foreigners having worked in the Greater Helsinki area restaurants whereas Finnish cooks etc. worked to a much greater degree in the municipal sector, for example at schools and health care institutions.
According to the pay statistics, those who performed best in comparison to Finns were foreign sales and marketing managers. In 2007, they had 24 per cent higher incomes than Finnish sales and marketing managers. Also, foreign IT experts did well in money terms.
Foreign medical doctors who worked in the public sector health care centres earned, on average, less than their Finnish colleagues. A similar gap prevailed in the construction industry.
Indians and Austrians top-earners
The 2007 pay statistics reveal that, among foreigners, the top-earners were Austrian, Indian, Danish and Dutch people. At the bottom end one finds Nigerians, Filipinos, Thais and Somalis.
Source:
- Ulkomaalainen sai huonompaa palkkaa useimmilla aloilla, Antti Katainen, Tieto&trendit 2-2009, published by the Statistics Finland