In Spain, working in public administration is more profitable than working in the private sector, at least in terms of salary. An analysis by the Bank of Spain reveals that Public sector employees earn on average 24% more than private sector employeesa difference which places the country at the top of the euro zone in this area, only behind Luxembourg. While in the Eurozone the average wage gap between the two sectors is 8%, in Spain the gap triples this figure, a situation which raises important questions about the labor market and national wage policies.
The Bank of Spain report, which analyzes consolidated data between 2018 and 2021, highlights that the difference widens up to 29% in cases where the level of training of workers is not taken into account, demonstrating that Less qualified civil servants receive much higher salaries compared to their private sector counterparts.
This imbalance between the two sectors has become a recurring subject of debate. The working conditions and stability offered by the public sector attract many workerswhich highlight advantages such as family conciliation, fixed hours and job security. “I work Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week,” explains a civil servant.
On the other hand, Private sector workers face very different realities, particularly in sectors like hospitality or logistics, where hours are irregular and wages are largely dependent on factors such as sales or demand. “I work 15 hours a day, and sometimes at night,” explains a hotel employee.
Compared to the countries around us, the differences are notable. In ItalyFor example, public sector employees earn 19% more than private sector employees, while in Germany The difference is minimal, with 2%. The case of France is particularly striking: in this country, private sector workers earn on average 3% more than civil servants, which contrasts with the Spanish situation.
Another key aspect of the analysis is the role of the 2008 financial crisiswhich at the time reduced these wage gaps due to austerity policies. However, in the following years, the Spanish public sector partially recovered its wage advantage. “The last crisis affected many countries and austerity measures contributed to a partial correction of wage gaps,” the report said. But as the economy has recovered, these differences have widened again.
The Bank of Spain report concludes that the Spanish situation is exceptional in Europe, since in many other countries the wage differences between the two sectors have stabilized or even reversed. Despite the criticism, Many candidates for public employment continue to see an opportunity in administration to obtain higher wages and better working conditions. “My father is a civil servant and he has always had a good life. After my studies, I would like to take the exam,” admits a young person who is preparing to enter the civil service.
