Higher education versus. compensation. Analysis by sectors and occupational groups

Abstract

In early 1990s Poland experienced a dynamic growth of the student population. Motivations to take up university education are varied. Some young people want to explore topics of interest, others think of gaining new knowledge, yet others wish to improve their chances on the labour market or avoid conscription. Some students undertake university education hoping for higher pay in future. As compensation is the most measurable type of motivation in analysis of educational outputs, the author attempted to investigate three problems: 1) the extent to which improved quality of education translated into higher compensations; 2) differences in compensation levels across economic sectors and occupational groups; 3) differences in compensation levels between Poland and old EU member states depending on the sector and occupational group. The article first analyses the average monthly gross income by occupational groups and age bands, moving on to differences in gross monthly compensation across sectors and comparing gross monthly pay in Poland versus ‘old’ UE member states, providing separate data for employees with university degrees.