Annual report and accounts 2008Annual report and accounts 2008

Notes contentsNotes to consolidated financial statements

5. Employee information


All figures in £ millions Notes 2008 2007
Employee benefit expense      
Wages and salaries (including termination benefits and restructuring costs)   1,317 1,087
Social security costs   119 100
Share-based payment costs 26 33 30
Pension costs — defined contribution plans 25 41 39
Pension costs — defined benefit plans 25 37 31
Other post-retirement benefits 25 6 1
    1,553 1,288

The details of the emoluments of the directors of Pearson plc are shown in the report on directors’ remuneration.

Average number employed 2008 2007
Employee numbers    
North American Education 15,412 14,327
International Education 5,718 5,291
Professional 2,641 2,540
FT Publishing 2,379 2,083
Interactive Data 2,413 2,300
Penguin 4,112 4,163
Other 909 918
Continuing operations 33,584 31,622
Discontinued operations 96 1,070
  33,680 32,692