The report examined the difference in gross hourly wages across different roles in Europe in order to visualise the estimated income level per trade segment. Eurostat concluded that in Europe, the average income in the highest paid sector was around three times higher than that of the lowest paid sector in 2018.
This wage gap is reflected in the data for the Grand Duchy, where the most profitable sectors guarantee incomes more than three times higher than those in lower-paid industries.
Based on earnings data for 2018, people in managerial and executive positions were found to be the best-paid in all EU member states.
Although Luxembourg's wages were among the highest in Europe, managers in Denmark receive a slightly higher wage on average - €50.87 per hour, compared to €49.51 in the Grand Duchy. And, although it is not a member of the EU, Switzerland's hourly rate for managers and executives is even higher, at €55.30 per hour.
However, although Luxembourg may have the highest minimum wage in Europe, it is not the most advantageous of member states for staff in the lowest paid jobs. For employees such as housekeepers, labourers, street vendors, bin collectors and construction workers, Luxembourg comes second to Denmark at just €14.73 per hour, compared to €23.37
Outside the EU, Switzerland ranks first at € 26.94 for one hour of work, followed by Norway (€ 21.76) and Iceland (€ 17.72). Luxembourg also ranks highly - but never first - among the countries which pay the best rates for so-called intellectual professions (32.76 € per hour), intermediate professions (26.70 €), employees in administrative positions ( € 21.07), those working in personal services and salespeople (€ 16.94), farmers and skilled agricultural workers (€ 15.97) and installation and machine operators or assembly workers (€17.09).
