LO report on industrial workers' wages on an international scale

Wages in Sweden are still among the highest internationally whereas wage rises in many other countries are more vigorous.
Wages in Sweden still count among the highest worldwide. Over the past six years, however, wages have increased to a somewhat lesser extent in Sweden than in most countries. But the real wage increases have been greater in Sweden than in other countries, owing to a low inflation rate.

This appears from a new report from LO on industrial workers’ wages internationally, which compares wages and wage development in 34 different countries in the years 2000-2006.

Wages in Northern Europe are among the highest in the world and so even in Sweden, where the wage cost of an industrial worker is 157 kronor an hour. This is more than the average in the EU and in the USA. But in a number of countries adjacent to Sweden, wages are even higher. The highest wages, up to 242 kronor an hour, can be found in Norway.

Over the past six years wages have increased by 21 per cent in Sweden. This is somewhat lower than in several other countries. But as the inflation rate in Sweden has been relatively low, the increase in real wages has been more substantial in Sweden than in most other countries.

- This shows that the Swedish model is effective and that the wage demands submitted by the LO affiliated unions in the latest negotiations’ rounds have been quite reasonable and well in line with the Swedish economy, Erland Olauson, LO Negotiating Secretary, says.