The case summed up Hairdressing apprentices earn almost half of what fishery apprentices earn. Apprentice wages reflect “adult wages”, and this can affect recruitment to various occupations. Both hairdresser and fishery apprentices believe that the pay differences are understandable given the differences in the profession. The trade union is working to raise the wages of the lowest paid. NHO emphasizes that the apprenticeship scheme is important to ensure the necessary competence for Norwegian business. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Hairdressing apprentices earn almost half of what, for example, fishing apprentices earn. But the recently graduated hairdresser from Bodø, Andreas Trondsen, is unsure whether it is fair. There is also Jesper Johnsen who will soon be a fisherman’s apprentice in Bø in Vesterålen. The apprentice salary reflects the “adult salary”. But the Trade Union has no doubts. They believe that such large gaps in apprentice wages affect recruitment to badly needed professions. – Maybe not fair, but I understand it. Andreas Trondsen from Bodø has just finished his apprenticeship and now works as a hairdresser in Oslo. During his apprenticeship, only receiving a salary was a great honor for him. Andreas Trondsen (20) has now graduated as a hairdresser and works in Oslo. The picture was taken when he was a hairdresser’s apprentice in Bodø three years ago. Hairdressing apprentices earn an average of NOK 17,820 a month. Photo: Johanne Eidsvold / news – I looked at it with a salary as paid study time, as I had not finished my education. In my eyes, that in itself was a plus. But compared to other apprentices, hairdressing apprentices fare very poorly. In fact, the worst. The highest paid apprentices earn almost twice as much. – Is it fair? – They are two very different professions. Apprentice fishermen may be away from home a lot and out by boat. I think that makes it more tiring mentally and physically, says Trondsen and adds: – It may not be fair, but I understand it. – Very different professions Apprentices in aquaculture are at the opposite end of the scale. They hold the most. Jesper Johnsen in Bø, who will be a fisheries apprentice next year, also believes that the difference in pay comes from the fact that the fishing industry and the hairdressing industry are very different. But if it is fair, he seems to find it difficult to answer. Jesper Johnsen (18) is a fisheries apprentice until next year, because there was a lack of apprentice places this year. Fishery apprentices earn an average of NOK 34,390 a month. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – The aquaculture industry harvests from the sea and produces a lot of food for the world’s population. Exporting seafood is one of the biggest sources of income we have in the country, he says and continues: – Hairdressers carry out cosmetic work. It’s not something you have to have, but sometimes it’s nice to freshen up your hair. – An eternal struggle Apprentice wages are usually based on a percentage of the skilled worker’s wage, i.e. what a newly graduated skilled worker earns. Anne Green Nilsen, head of negotiations at the Trade Union explains that the apprentice salary thus reflects society. – Is it fair? – We don’t think it should be like this, and work on every collective agreement to raise the wages of the lowest paid. It is an eternal tug of war. The trade union organizes many different professions. Anne Green Nilsen, head of negotiations at the Trade Union, says that they therefore have a more complex task than many other trade unions. Photo: Fagforbundet The Directorate of Education wrote to news that the level of wages is a collective agreement issue. Where there are no agreements, it is the company where the apprentice is employed that determines the salary. – We are working to change the difference between the wage system and by pushing the structures in society to value occupational groups in a better way than today, says Nilsen. Now they are dependent on zealots who like the low-paid profession despite poor apprentice wages. Jon Claudi, director of negotiations at NHO, says that even though the vocational subject is important for the business world, it is natural that there is a gap in the wages of the apprentices. Photo: Jon Petrusson / news – I feel I have to defend myself One of those who have chosen a profession despite the pay is Trondsen from Bodø. Although he is not sure if it is fair, he believes that it affects how many people would like to become, for example, a hairdresser or a kindergarten assistant in the future. – I feel that vocational subjects in general and going on an apprenticeship are looked down upon by many. A higher apprentice wage could promote the profession more. Photo: Andreas Trondsen / private – If I tell people that I’m a hairdresser, many make prejudgments. I often feel that I have to defend myself a little. He believes that respect for the low-paid professions is weakened by the pay. – Considering how much work there is in relation to the salary and how important many of the low-paid professions are, it’s a bit odd. Jesper Johnsen says that fishery apprentices can earn up to a million, if they are lucky with a boat and catch. But from next year, the Fiskarlaget will reduce the apprentice salary, so that more people will get an apprenticeship. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Nilsen in the Trade Union has no doubt that it is connected with recruitment, especially when there is high pressure in the profession at the same time as there is low staffing and wages. It is the female-dominated professions that she is most worried about. Trondsen, for his part, does not believe that the female-dominated hairdressing profession must be low-paid. – In the hairdressing profession, you can do badly. One can also exercise very well. But you have to work to earn. Published 25.11.2024, at 05.39
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Hairdressing apprentices earn almost half of what fishery apprentices earn – news Nordland
