Why are workers in the Spanish energy industry more likely to earn higher wages than other Spanish workers?

Abstract

In Spain, 85.5 % of energy industry workers have a salary that is more than the Spanish average salary. We apply a binomial logit model based on the maximum likelihood estimation method to analyze the factors that determine the probability of obtaining these higher wages. The sample used was taken from the Wage Structure Survey (2018) prepared by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Firstly, the results show that this sector has a consolidated workforce and that the workers' educational levels are appropriate for their jobs. Secondly, there are no gender-based wage differences in this industry. Finally, working conditions and wages are established through collective bargaining agreements at the company level, which stands in contrast to other types of agreements established in the rest of the Spanish economy.