The concept of fairness is critically important in an era defined by rapid technological advancements, economic fluctuations, and social transformations, according to the ‘Investing in Fairness’ report published by the European Commission. Salary is one of the most significant aspects of this goal, with employees keen to receive appropriate compensation for their work.

Receiving a fair salary based on skills and experience supports the EU’s commitment to promoting social justice and equality. However, two-thirds (67%) of people in the EU are concerned about not receiving a fair salary based on their skillset and experience. “This highlights the importance of fair compensation for work,” the report says.

Worries about not receiving a fair salary to meet household needs vary widely across Europe. According to the Eurobarometer survey in the report, it ranges from 19% in Denmark to 86% in Portugal and Cyprus.

In 22 EU countries, at least half of respondents are worried about not receiving a fair salary.

The worry level represents respondents who are either ‘very worried’ or ‘fairly worried’. A detailed breakdown of worry levels is shown in another chart below.

In general, geographical patterns emerge when examining the levels of worry. People in Southern and Eastern Europe express higher concern about wage fairness, while those in Northern and Western Europe, in particular the Nordic countries, report lower levels of concern.

The highest levels of worry are clearly seen in Southern Europe. These include Portugal (86%), Cyprus (86%), Greece (85%), Italy (84%), Croatia (83%), and Spain (81%).

In contrast, three Nordic countries and the Netherlands report the lowest worries about salary fairness: Denmark (19%), Sweden (26%), Netherlands (28%), and Finland (34%). These levels are significantly lower than the EU average, pointing to the population’s trust in social justice and equality.

Germany (56%) and Ireland (59%) are still below the EU average but notably higher than the four countries at the bottom.

This makes Germany the least worried nation about fair pay among the EU’s top four economies, while Italy and Spain rank in the highest group. France is also above the EU average at 73%.

Looking at the breakdown of worry levels, more than half of people in three countries are ‘very worried’ about not receiving a fair salary based on their skills and experience. They are Cyprus (59%), Portugal (55%) and Spain (54%).

The proportion of people who are ‘very worried’ is also 40% or higher in three more countries: Croatia (47%), Greece (45%), and Italy (40%).

Continua a leggere

All six countries are located in Southern Europe.

In the EU, nearly one-third report being very worried (30%), while slightly more than one-third feel fairly worried (37%).

By contrast, nearly one-third of respondents (31%) in the EU say they are not worried about receiving a fair salary based on their skills and experience. Among them, one fifth (20%) are not very worried, and slightly more than one tenth (11%) are not worried at all.

Gender does not play a significant role in the level of worry about fair salary, as the difference is only three percentage points (69% vs. 66%). The same holds true for age groups up to 54, all at around 74%, whereas the figure falls to 57% among those aged 55 and over.

There is a moderate negative correlation between annual net earnings and worry levels. This means that worry tends to decrease as income increases.

However, the correlation is not strong and explains only about 30% of the differences between countries. The chart also shows that some countries with similar income levels have significantly different worry levels.

The correlation is slightly weaker when annual net earnings in PPS (Purchasing Power Standard) are used. This allows for better comparison across countries by removing price differences.

The survey was conducted in January and February 2025.