From Natalie Sims.
I AM curious to know if I am the only one feeling hard done by now that the new average salary for a worker in Jersey is apparently £31,000?

As a public sector worker, who are stated as earning an average of £800 per week, I would like to know where these figures are coming from? I used to work in the finance industry (on a less than ‘average’ wage!) but due to a passion for the area I now work in, I changed career path and now, according to these figures, despite having what I consider quite a serious job with a degree of responsibility, I am in fact among the lowest earners, earning less than the average agricultural worker and a little bit more than the lowest earners, bar and restaurant staff. (I by no means want to disrespect these workers by saying this, I just wish to highlight the error with the figures.)

Now I know this can’t be true, so I am assuming that the average salary is worked out by taking into consideration all salaries and dividing them by the number of people in employment, which may provide an accurate ‘average’ with regards to applying a maths principle, however, this is not a true reflection of what the ‘average’ person is earning. If I am wrong with regard to this I would like to know how it is calculated.

The reason why I feel this is so important is that I am wondering if the apparent lack of understanding of the real average person’s struggles in this Island on the part of the majority of States Members is down to their ignorance of how a huge percentage of us are earning a lot less than what they think is the average wage. This is a struggle endured by the majority of my friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

I understand and appreciate that those on income support are not in an easy position. However, the situation is not a lot better and, perhaps in some respects, even worse for an average (in my eyes) salary-earner of £20K – as evidenced by the JEP’s article about Lucy Hiller. This is an appalling choice to have to make for someone obviously not work shy. Rising food costs, house prices, accommodation rental, fuel etc, etc – not to mention the ill-thought-out and immoral decision to add 3% GST to food items and other essentials – is making it increasingly difficult for the ‘average’ person to survive and have any real quality of life in this Island.

It has even been mentioned to me that there is an attitude, though I hope this is of a very small minority, that those who can’t afford to live here or don’t like it should move. As a local from a local family I feel this to be more than a little unfair. It is bad enough that with current house prices being as they are I will never have the opportunity of buying my own home.

So I wait in eager anticipation for an answer to this economic riddle and also ask that the politicians who are put in power to serve us, the Islanders, and not the other way round open their eyes and ears and become a little – no, a lot more – sympathetic of our plight.
D’Hauteville Chambers,
22 Seale Street,
St Helier.