Study analyses earnings of technical and scientific staff
Published: 20 November 2001
A study published in November 2001 analyses official statistics on the earnings of technical and scientific staff in Portugal. It finds that the differential between the salaries of employees with different level of qualifications is decreasing. Furthermore, while there is a discrepancy between the earnings of male and female technical and scientific staff, the gap is narrowing.
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A study published in November 2001 analyses official statistics on the earnings of technical and scientific staff in Portugal. It finds that the differential between the salaries of employees with different level of qualifications is decreasing. Furthermore, while there is a discrepancy between the earnings of male and female technical and scientific staff, the gap is narrowing.
In November 2001, a study was published by the Portuguese Confederation of Technical and Scientific Staff (Confederação Portuguesa de Quadros Técnicos e Científicos, CPQTC), analysing the pay of Portuguese workers, with a special focus on the salaries of technical and scientific staff. The study, entitled 'Middle management and technical and scientific staff salaries and European comparisons' (Remuneração de Quadros e Referências Europeias), also compares salaries in Portugal with those in the rest of the European Union.
The study analyses the official statistics on the earnings of technical and scientific staff in Portugal over the last few years. Earnings are defined as basic pay plus bonuses for years of service, overtime and other regular payments. The findings of the study are as follows:
the average earnings for all Portuguese workers represent 55.2% of those of employees with post-secondary education qualifications (International Standard Classification of Education level 4) and 39.1% of those earned by employees with degrees. In other words, employees with post-secondary education qualifications earn some 80% more than the average, and those with degrees some 150% more;
the average monthly earnings of employees with post-secondary education qualifications correspond to 70.9% of the earnings of those with degrees;
analysing the average monthly earnings for different business sectors, the business sectors in which technical staff earn most, considering occupational categories as a whole, are the electricity, gas and water industries, and financial activities; and
the statistics show a trend towards a narrowing in the range of salaries. In 1995, the ratio between the average earnings of all workers and of degree-holders was 2.8, while in 1999 it was 2.5.
Table 1 below gives the cash values of the average monthly earnings of all workers, those with post-secondary education qualifications and those with degrees.
| . | Total workers | Post-secondary education qualification | Degree |
| 1999* | 702.38 | 1,273.54 | 1,795.88 |
| 1998 | 679.94 | 1,232.85 | 1,738.51 |
| 1997 | 640.01 | 1,195.93 | 1,685.16 |
| 1995 | 585.72 | 1.179.43 | 1,642.19 |
* Estimated on the basis of the growth rate achieved in collective bargaining.
Source: CPQTC.
However, it should be noted that neither the official statistics nor the CPQTC study take into account variable components of pay, such as company cars or stock options, which are perks more often given to middle-management staff than to other workers.
Gender differences
Turning to the difference in pay between male and female middle management and technical and scientific staff, the study finds that:
comparing the gender differential in the average earnings of all workers with the the gender differential in the average earnings of middle management and technical and scientific staff, there are no major differences. Women's earnings are 72.3% and 73.4% of men's respectively;
there has been a slight narrowing of the gender pay gap among middle management and technical and scientific staff. Women's average earnings rose from 70.9% of men's earnings in 1997 to 73.4% in 1999; and
analysing the situation by sector, female middle management and technical and scientific staff's earnings vary from 72.5% of men's (in 'other' collective social and personal service activities) to 86.1% (in fishing). The business sectors in which the differences in pay are the smallest are, in descending order, fishing, the extractive industries, electricity, gas and water companies, the hotel industry, financial activities and public administration.
Table 2 below gives the cash values of the average monthly earnings of all workers and of higher management, technical and scientific staff, by gender.
| . | All workers | All higher management, technical and scientific staff | higher management, technical and scientific staff by gender | ||
| . | Men | Women | Men and women | Men | Women |
| 1999* | 792.31 | 573.11 | 1,945.22 | 2,102.80 | 1,544.51 |
| 1998 | 767.00 | 554.80 | 1,883.08 | 2,035.63 | 1,495.17 |
| 1997 | 720.42 | 522.47 | 1,848.04 | 2,012.41 | 1,426.89 |
* Estimated on the basis of the growth rate achieved in collective bargaining.
Source: CPQTC.
With regard to the situation of women in higher education and research, as research is traditionally poorly paid and does not offer great prospects in Portugal, men have either tended to shy away from it or have gone to conduct research abroad. As a result, this type of job has been done by women. Women have therefore been relatively well represented in research, both at universities – where they represent 43% of researchers – and with other employers. In public bodies, such as state laboratories, female researchers are actually in the majority (53%). This scenario contrasts to a great extent with the rest of the European Union, where there are much lower percentages of women in such positions (26%). Although there are many women conducting research, according to recent European Commission reports, they are under-represented in the higher positions at universities, because they tend not to stay there for very long.
The percentage of all university graduates who are women in Portugal is one of the highest in Europe (63%).
EU comparisons
Examining the earnings of both men and women in Portugal and in the rest of the EU, the study finds that Portugal has the lowest salaries. Portuguese pay has not made much progress in recent years in catching up with that in the other EU Member States, and the study thus concludes that there has been little convergence.
Comparing women's earnings in Portugal with those in other countries, the study finds that there is a smaller than average gender pay gap among middle management and technical and scientific staff in Portugal. This can be explained by the fact that the other EU countries are more inclined towards part-time work, while women in Portugal are generally obliged by circumstances to work full time.
Commentary
The fact that euro notes and coins will go into circulation in 12 EU Member States in January 2002 means that:
the difference between pay in Portugal and in the rest of Europe will become more visible; and
research institutions and trade unions will be better able to explore all the facets of earnings structures, which they have not done until now due to a lack of research.
The finding that there are a large number of women in research in Portugal once again confirms the results of previous investigation into equal opportunities: women only occupy the positions left open by men in all sectors of activity, and especially at universities, because men choose better paid careers. (Maria Luisa Cristovam and Ana Almeida, UAL)
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2001), Study analyses earnings of technical and scientific staff, article.
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