European Wage Growth Reveals Which Jobs Are Booming
Examining Salary Trends Across Europe’s Top 25 Jobs
Key Findings from Euronews Business
- Comprehensive review of wage growth in the United Kingdom
- Detailed analysis of salary increases in the Germany
- Breakdown of earnings trends in the France
- Insight into pay evolution in the Netherlands
What Makes These 25 Occupations Stand Out
- High demand across all four economies
- Significant impact on national GDPs
- Clear patterns of wage progression over recent years
- Variations in benefits and bonuses between sectors
Takeaway
Understanding the shifts in compensation for these prominent roles can help policymakers, recruiters, and workers anticipate market changes and make strategic decisions.
Job Postings & Wage Trends in 2024
According to Pawel Adrjan, Director of Economic Research at Indeed, job postings have declined across almost all job categories compared to the previous year. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze wage growth and posting trends against the overall average, allowing employers and researchers to pinpoint which occupational sectors are outperforming and which are underperforming in the competitive hiring market.
Jobs and drivers of wage growth in the UK
UK Stands Out in Wage Growth
Wage Increase Surpasses Expectations
The United Kingdom has recorded the largest rise in wages among the four surveyed nations, both in nominal and real terms. According to economist Adrjan, “the UK’s wage expansion has puzzled researchers for some time. Even though it has receded from its peak, nominal wage growth remains relatively high, despite a notable decline in pressure for new hires.”
Key Drivers Behind the Trend
- Minimum Wage Policy: The government’s decision to lift the minimum wage has ripple effects throughout the pay structure. Firms are prompted to elevate compensation across all tiers to preserve the wage gaps between positions and experience levels.
- Labor Supply Constraints: Reduced immigration combined with increased economic inactivity limits available workers. Employers consequently offer higher wages to attract and retain talent.
Sector‑Specific Wage Movements
Examining the 25 largest occupations reveals that the UK saw the most significant real wage gains in the legal sector, which grew by 4.3%. Other areas turned up notable increases as follows:
- Retail – 3.3%
- Production & manufacturing – 3.2%
- Loading & stocking – 3.1%
- Customer service – 3.0%
Growth followed a steady trend without extreme outliers, with the exception of the top legal segment and a slight dip in software development roles (–2.2%).
Health and Care Pay changes
Occupations in the health and care fields showed modest real wage increases:
- Senior nursing positions – 1.7%
- Childcare workers – 2.3%
- Personal care and home health aides – 2.1%
IT wages in decline in Germany
Germany Wage Trends Deciphered
In Germany, the legal sector has recorded the most substantial boost in real wages, climbing an impressive 5.7%. Production, manufacturing and medical tech roles followed closely, each experiencing a 4.1% uptick.
Other sectors—education, security, media and human resources—were not far behind, registering gains that ranged from 3.5% to 3.9%.
Conversely, the technology arena witnessed the steepest decline. IT operations and help‑desk positions dropped by 6.4%, while software developers saw their real wages shrink by 4.2%. These impacts reflect an inflationary environment where wages lag behind cost increases, eroding consumer purchasing power.
“Although wage growth has tempered, Germany still outpaces the Eurozone average,” noted Indeed’s Adrjan. He added that the success remains largely fueled by persistent, coordinated union bargaining, culminating in multi‑year wage contracts that continue to influence overall patterns today.
No outliers in France’s wage growth
France’s Wage Growth Snapshot: A Closer Look at 2023
Sector‑by‑Sector Real Wage Trends
- Management & Security & Public Safety – The strongest performers, each with a 2% increase.
- Information Design & Documentation – Close behind at 1.9%.
- Human Resources – Rising by 1.8%.
- Most other occupations remain steady, with gains ranging only between 0.5% and 1.5%.
Occupations with Minimal Growth
- Personal Care & Home Health – 0.2% or less.
- Banking & Finance – 0.2% or less.
- Software Development – 0.2% or less.
Underlying Factors Influencing Wage Dynamics
In France, the minimum wage is tightly linked to inflation indices. This strong connection means that wages negotiated between companies and trade unions adjust promptly to inflationary shifts. As a result, wage growth mirrored the rapid inflation increases of 2022‑2023 and the subsequent slowdown in price pressures over the recent two years.
Real wages fall in Dutch health and care roles
Wage Growth Trends in the Netherlands
Recent wage data highlights significant increases in certain service and industry sectors, while a few healthcare roles have seen slight declines.
Positive Growth Sectors
- Cleaning & Sanitation: 4.0% rise in wages.
- Security & Public Safety: 3.9% increase.
- Banking & Finance: 3.4% strengthening.
- Management: 3.1% improvement.
- Construction: 3.0% growth.
Negative Growth Sectors
- Nursing: wages fell by 0.3%.
- Childcare: real salaries dipped 0.5%.
- Physicians & Surgeons: experienced a 0.6% decline.
Discover more: Salary trends in the UK, Germany, and France
Salary Details Across Industries
Each sector highlighted in the charts above encompasses a broad spectrum of job functions. For those looking to understand the compensation tied to a specific role, the most accurate and up‑to‑date figures can be gleaned directly from Indeed’s website. In addition, Euronews Business publishes comprehensive salary breakdowns that focus on three major European markets.
Country‑Specific Salary Breakdowns
- United Kingdom – Detailed salary ranges for key positions.
- Germany – Comprehensive pay tables by industry.
- France – In‑depth compensation statistics, including median and mean figures.
By combining resources from both platforms, you’ll gain a clear view of how salaries vary across roles and regions.
