A recent release by the Statistics Service sheds light on notable disparities in monthly earnings between native and non-native workers operating within the same economic activities in Cyprus. The analysis confirms that wage variations persist across diverse sectors, influenced by qualifications, gender, and nationality.
Sectoral Discrepancies in Earnings
Among non-native employees, the finance and insurance sector leads with an average monthly wage of €6,172, significantly outpacing the native rate of €4,129. A similar trend is observed in the information and communication field, where non-native workers earn an average of €5,083 compared to €3,197 for their native counterparts. Additional sectors, such as arts, entertainment, and recreation, along with public service agencies, also exhibit higher compensation for non-native employees. For instance, non-natives in the mining and quarrying industry earn about €4,173 monthly, whereas natives receive €3,123; in logistics, non-natives earn €2,767 compared to €2,601 for natives; and in professional, scientific, and technical activities the disparity is €3,521 versus €2,653, respectively.
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Native Workers Leading in Key Sectors
Conversely, certain industries favor native workers with higher average monthly wages. In agriculture, forestry, and fishing, native employees earn approximately €1,677, while non-natives receive merely €650. The manufacturing sector also highlights a gap, with natives earning €2,002 compared to €1,628 for non-natives. Moreover, public utilities demonstrate substantial differences: workers in electric, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply earn an average of €3,585 if native, versus €2,259 for non-natives, while those in water supply and waste management report €2,472 for natives and €1,572 for non-natives. Similar patterns are observed in construction, wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair, and accommodation services, where natives consistently earn more.
Balanced Earnings in Education and Public Administration
In sectors such as education and public administration, the wage differences are far less pronounced. Non-native employees in public administration and defense earn slightly more at €3,444, while natives receive €3,278. In the education sector, the monthly earnings for non-natives and natives are comparably close at €2,428 and €2,280 respectively, indicating that these areas exhibit a more balanced compensation structure.
Conclusion
The statistics present a complex picture of the Cypriot labor market. While non-native workers command higher wages in sectors such as finance, insurance, and various professional services, native employees tend to secure better compensation in agriculture, manufacturing, and utilities. This sector-by-sector analysis offers critical insights for policymakers and business strategists aiming to understand and address the underlying factors contributing to these wage disparities.
