I just saw an article where data suggests that foreigners in Luxembourg, on average, earn less than Luxembourgers. Why do you think that is?

As someone that is extremely money motived and wishes to move to Luxembourg, I’d like to maximize my earning potential in every front.

Is it because of Luxembourgish? Or maybe because a lot of immigrants tend to go to unqualified jobs?

How can I level the playing field?

Thanks!

​

PS: The news article – [https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1578389.html](https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1578389.html)

5 comments

  1. Hard to say, there are a lot of factors at play. One of my guesses would be that a bunch of “foreign” workers are probably from the older generation ( like my parents for example ) which are minimum wage workers and don’t even speak Luxembourgish.

  2. Depends on the fields you work. Well on the other hand it’s a bit logical that the luxemburgish (speakers) earn a bit more since they know the language. In most jobs here you can only work efficiently if you understand it. It’s an skill, like an extra degree.

  3. If this is true, I think it mainly relates to Luxembourgers often working for the state who pays better than say the private sector. As far as I know you’re usually required to be a Luxembourgish citizen which includes speaking Luxembourgish and all. (In this line of work you actually use Lux as the primary language to communicate not just when you’re at home)

  4. Yes, it’s because many Luxembourgers work for the government, where salaries are significantly better than the average private sector jobs.

    You don’t have to be a citizen, though. Rather, you have to know 3 — sometimes 4 — languages, including Luxembourgish. So, in effect, these are jobs reserved for Luxembourgers.

    There are groups of foreigners that earn a lot in the private sector however. People higher up in some of the banks, investment firms, consulting etc… can make a lot more than those working for the state. In other words, as a foreigner you can earn a *hitload, you just need to pick your field carefully.

  5. One point sort of pointed out is the diff between states vs private.

    Some/ quite a lot of careers sort of have a “better” start and with state you are basically safe to get a small steady increase in wage every 2 years

    While the private sector has higher possible ranges, a person who is an accountant with a bts wouldve started years ago on qualified minimum salary + peanuts where the same career has a better “start point” in the state and as added bonus you know you get wage increases steadily as opposed to promotions and wage negociations like you would do in private.

    It is a gamble but yeah to each his own.

    Another small diff would be that many border workers sort of come to luxembourg to do the “drecksarbescht” aka garbage jobs or lower education jobs.. there is an issue/stigma that with living costs being so high and everybody studying etc that most luxembourgers dont wanna do the lower paid / more physical hard jobs ( which do tend to be better paid than back home for some people)

    I mean if you can have 500 (simplified) more the month you dont mind driving across border if the work is the same as if it were at home or would you?

Leave a Reply