Salaries rose by 4.1 per cent last year, according to a recent report from the Technical Calculation Committee for Income Settlements (TBU). Because prices rose far more, most people had weaker purchasing power. TBU estimates in its preliminary report before the wage settlements that wages from 2021 to 2022 rose by 4.1 per cent. The biggest increase in wages was experienced by industrial officials, who on average increased their wages by 5 per cent, partly as a result of bonuses. Employees in the financial industry also increased their wages by 5 per cent, the preliminary figures show. At the same time, figures from Statistics Norway show that price growth for 2022 landed at 5.8 per cent. The figures show that the vast majority of people lost purchasing power after tax during last year. TBU estimates that prices will rise by 4.8 per cent this year. This is an uncertain estimate, which is particularly affected by the war in Ukraine and the development of the krone exchange rate. In comparison, Norges Bank has a price increase of 4.7 per cent in its latest monetary policy report. A new estimate for the price increase this year will be presented on 13 March, closer to the salary settlement. The annual wage growth from 2021 to 2022 in the industry as a whole in the NHO area is currently estimated at 4.0 per cent, while the framework for front-line professions was estimated at 3.7 per cent at the main settlement in 2022. It is positive that companies within the front-line profession stayed within the framework of 3.7 % in 2022, says CEO of Norsk Industri, Stein Lier Hansen. – But it is worrying that the gap in wage development between different sectors is too high in 2022. It is important that the framework set by the front subject is maintained in other sectors. If not, we weaken the competitiveness of the export industry, he says. – Beyond this, we have not assessed the consequences for future settlements, states Stein Lier-Hansen. – It is clear that many do not relate to the front subject – When the front subject frame last year was estimated at 3.7%, and we see that the wage growth for industrial clerks and employees in finance was 5%, it is clear that many in the private sector do not relate to the front subject, says Unio – leader Ragnhild Lied. Many people do not relate to the front subject, says Unio leader Ragnhild Lied. Photo: news She says that the figures show that the wages of those with higher education in the public sector are lagging behind at the same time as the staffing crisis in the state and local authorities is increasing. – It is not sustainable, for neither the welfare state nor the coordinated wage structure, says the Unio leader. The academics: – Concerned that the pay gap to the private sector is increasing The academics are now worried that the public sector is losing the battle for those with a high level of education. – Both the state, municipalities and hospitals are struggling to retain and recruit highly educated people. There is a major shortage of, among other things, IT expertise, lawyers and economists, and recruitment challenges in schools and the health service, says Lise Lyngsnes Randeberg, head of Akademikerne. She says that the competition for highly educated people is great. – Now that many people also have tighter finances, it is absolutely crucial that the public sector uses wages as a tool to prevent competence from disappearing to the private sector, she says.
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