Earnings in building and construction, 1 October 2001

Full-time employees in building installation had the highest wage level in construction with an average of NOK 24 700 in monthly earnings. For full-time employees working in site preparation and in activities relating to building of complete constructions the average monthly earnings were NOK 24 300, an increase of NOK 1100 or 4.9 per cent from the previous year.

In building completion and renting of construction or demolition equipment with operator full-time employees had NOK 22 500 in average monthly earnings, up NOK 900 or 4.2 per cent.

Site preparation and activities relating to building of complete constructions

Nearly 70 per cent of all full-time employees in construction are working in site preparation or activities relating to building of complete constructions. More than one half of the employees in these groups are craft workers. They had NOK 22 800 in average monthly earnings, an increase of NOK 800 or 3.9 per cent from the year before. Among craft workers, carpenters and joiners had average monthly earnings of NOK 22 500, which was an increase of 1 000 or 4.8 per cent. In comparison, senior officials and managers had NOK 37 900 in average monthly earnings, up NOK 2 300 or 6.6 per cent.

Building installation

This group covers installation of wiring and fittings, insulation, plumbing and other building installation. The predominant occupational group is craft workers, who had NOK 24 100 in average monthly earnings, an increase of NOK 1200 or 5.3 per cent from October 2000. Electricians, electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters had NOK 24 600 in monthly earnings, which constituted an increase of NOK 1200 or 5.1 per cent. For plumbers the average monthly earnings were NOK 23 400, an increase of NOK 800 or a growth of 3.6 per cent.

In comparison, technicians and associated professionals had NOK 27 600, up NOK 1100 or 4 per cent from the previous year.

Building completion and renting of construction or demolition equipment with operator

In this group craft workers had NOK 22 200 in average monthly earnings, which was an increase of 900 or 4.1 per cent. Painters and related workers, building structure cleaners, varnishers and drivers had NOK 22 300 in monthly earnings, up NOK 800 or 3.9 per cent from the same time the year before.

Annual earnings increased with 4.6 per cent

The estimated average annual earnings for all full-time employees in construction were NOK 287 000 in 2001, an increase of 4.6 per cent from the year before. Annual earnings for employees in site preparation and activities relating to building of complete constructions were NOK 288 000, while employees in building installation had annual earnings of NOK 294 000. This amounted to an increase of 4.8 and 4.2 per cent, respectively. For full-time employees in building completion and renting of construction or demolition equipment with operator annual earnings were NOK 267 000, an increase from the previous year of 4.1 per cent.

About the statistical basis

The statistics are based on information from a sample of enterprises which cover a total of 40 109 full-time and 2 079 part-time employees. According to preliminary figures from the National Accounts for the third quarter of 2001 the statistics cover approximately 113 000 employed wage earners in construction.