The annual survey of labour costs reveals that gross salaries in the Balearics increased by 2.6% in 2017. This was the second highest percentage rise in the country; Navarre had the highest with 4.1%.
The average gross salary was 21,662 euros. This was below the national figure of 22,807 euros. The Balearics ranked eighth behind Madrid, the Basque Country Navarre, Catalonia, Cantabria, Asturias and Aragon.
With the exception of Catalonia, the Balearics have the highest tourism sector salaries in the country; ahead, therefore, of Andalusia, the Canaries and Valenica. Catalonia, it should be noted, has a much broader-based economy than the Balearics; tourism in terms of GDP is much lower than in the Balearics.
The tourism sector salaries are rising. The agreement for the hotel sector (five per cent this year, and 12% more between 2019 and 2021) is likely to reveal a higher percentage increase for gross salaries in 2018 when next year's survey is published.
The national average salary of 22,807 euros disguises the fact that salaries in the hospitality sector are way below this average. The national figure for the sector in 2017 was 13,688 euros.