The average salary climbed in 2022 to 25,353.22 euros gross, 4.6% more than in 2021, according to data from the INE's annual labor cost survey published today. The figure is not used to beat inflation for the year, which had an annual average of 8.4%. Thus, workers lost almost four points of purchasing power, even among those who earn the most or the richest autonomies.
It's a buyability drop that's unmatched in the series. Only in 2012 was a decrease of 3% in purchasing power exceeded, since inflation was 2.4% and wages fell by 0.6%.
The blow of the rise in the prices of energy, food, transport and life in general made a hole in the budget of the Spaniards and left 2022 to be forgotten. Wages didn't make up for it. From European instances such as the European Central Bank (ECB) or in circles of employers, it had been requested to be careful with the salary increase to avoid second round effects that would make inflation chronic. Between contention and the need to recover margins, they have lost out.
The increase of 4.6% is also somewhat less than the 6.2% of 2021, highly influenced when compared to 2020, when wages fell due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
The analysis by sectors leaves gaps. While in construction wages increased by 5.2%, to 24,415.59 euros, in industry they did less, 4%, to 29,075.93 euros. Its workers have in any case the highest average salary, since in services they increased 4.7% to 24,781.96 euros.
Going into detail, the best salaries were in the area of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, with 63,074.26 euros (0.2% over 2021); and in financial and insurance activities, with 50,391.70 euros (3%). Both repeat in the same place as last year.
On the other hand, the lowest salaries are in the hospitality industry, with 15,175.70 euros (29%), compared to 17,336.67 euros (2.8%) in administrative activities and auxiliary services. In the first case, the jump is substantial, guided by the increase in the minimum wage to 1,000 euros in 2022, which fully affects the hospitality sector, and the need to attract talent with better conditions.
By autonomies there are no surprises. The highest salaries are in Madrid, with 30,348.34 euros (3.5%), in the Basque Country, with 29,050.48 euros (2.9%) and in Catalonia, with 27,420.94 (5.5%). The country's economic engines pay better... but they don't cover the rise in prices either. The lowest salary is received by Extremadurans, with 20,380.34 euros (4.9%).
To find the place where they grew the most, you have to travel to the Canary Islands, with 11.2%. Despite this, its average is the second lowest, with 21,137.05 euros. It escapes at least the last position it occupied last year and is the only one that can say that it exceeds national inflation. The Balearic Islands (8.3%, 23,801.06 euros) and Cantabria (5.6%, 23,548.93 euros) complete the position of increases.
Although no autonomy sees its amounts fall, the least progress is made by Murcians, whose average salary increases by 1.8%, to 22,177.76 euros.
Salary is not the only thing that companies face. The statistics show that each worker cost companies an average of 34,058.33 euros, 4.1% more. The figure includes the employee's own salary (74% of the cost), contributions (8,055.63 euros), severance pay (144.33 euros) or training expenses (68.32 euros), among others. On average, companies received 227.22 euros in subsidies and deductions to promote employment and training.
