The incomes of UJF members in employment have increased by an average of 2.1 per cent over a two-year period. Average monthly take home pay is € 3 537, € 3 875 with allowances.

The earnings of the employed members of the Union of Journalists have risen by an average of 2.1 per cent over two years. The average monthly salary is EUR 3,537, the total earnings plus EUR 3,875.

The figures come from the UJF’s labour market survey, conducted every two years. are based on the union’s labor market survey, which is conducted every two years. About a thousand members took part in the survey, carried out in April.

Average gross income for men was €3 922, for women € 3 787, an increase of €24 and €53 respectively.

“In the media sector, the increases in earnings are largely based on the collective agreements negotiated by the association,” said UJF head of advocacy Petri Savolainen.

The euro for women is now nearly 97 cents, compared to 96 cents seen in the previous survey.

“In terms of pay equality, we’re on the right track, but there’s still work to be done,” said Savolainen.

The total earnings of women under the age of 30 exceed the income level of men of the same age. Otherwise men’s pay is higher. The 50–59 age group has the highest earnings.

Basic monthly pay according to type of workplace

	Number	%	Average	Median	Fractiles: 10	25	50	75	90
Total	6874	100	3537	3400	2700	3100	3400	3900	4560
Press	3526	51	3687	3524	2800	3152	3524	4180	4800
Newspapers and news agencies	2206	32	3555	3373	2700	3023	3373	3900	4648
Magazines	1320	19	3903	3850	2868	3355	3850	4300	4924
Yle	2413	35	3363	3332	2800	3092	3332	3668	4063
MTV Media and Nelonen	217	3	3846	3640	2000	3590	3640	3800	7000
Other private Tv and radio channels	168	2	3136	3000	2200	2500	3000	3750	4700
Publishers	357	5	3303	3300	2495	3060	3300	3600	4051
Other company in the industry	137	2	3555	3500	2300	2981	3500	4200	4785

 

4.5 hours overtime a week

Journalists who specialise in economics, politics and the jobs market earn the most, according to the survey. Foreign affairs and sports are also higher than average earners.

Less than 30 per cent of survey respondents said that they had received performance bonuses in 2019. The relative share of performance bonuses in annual earnings is fairly small.

The average working week is 36 hours. Overtime takes up about 4.5 hours a week, and is typically compensated for by time off, or a mix of time off and cash.

Covid-19 and work

The survey also mapped the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. About one in two (47 per cent) respondents did not find that their workload has changed. 39 per cent siad that it had increased, and 12 per cent that it had dropped. Nearly two-fifths (38%) of respondents said that there had been some reduction in workplace activity.

29% of press employees have been laid off, while there have been no layoffs at the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle).

The biggest changes due to the corona epidemic concern working methods. Remote working has expanded by 79 per cent, and there has been an almost total changeover to remote working in publishing firms.

One workplace in five has switched to remote working for the first time. More than half of workplaces have new equipment introduced for this, such as messaging and video conferencing applications.

About the survey

– The union asked its members by email for information for the survey in April 2020.

– The survey invitation was sent to 6 874 people.

• 1 033 union members took part in the survey. The response rate was 18 per
• The survey was carried out by Kantar TNS.

Freelance members did not take part in the survey. Their pay situation was the subject of an earlier survey, carried out in spring 2019, see: https://journalistiliitto.fi/en/freelance-survey-better-incomes-majority-satisfied-with-work/

The union also examined the impact of the corona pandemic on freelancers in spring this year: https://journalistiliitto.fi/en/freelancers-hit-hard-by-corona-pandemic-reduced-pay-and-work-few-have-sought-financial-support-for-sole-entrepreneurs/