Personnel expenses consisted of the following:

Personnel expenses
2024 2025
€ million € million
Salaries (1,723) (1,600)
Social expenses and expenses for pensions and other benefits (408) (425)
of which for defined contribution pension plans (116) (116)
of which for defined benefit and other pension plans (74) (69)
Total (2,131) (2,025)

Personnel expenses in fiscal⁠ ⁠2025 decreased mainly due to lower expenses for short- and long-term variable compensation.

Average number of employees
2024 2025
Production 12,053 12,238
Marketing and distribution 2,784 2,726
Research and development 1,338 1,314
General administration 1,347 1,316
Total 17,522 17,594
Employees in vocational training 523 518

The average number of permanent or temporary employees is stated in full-time equivalents. Part-time employees are included on a pro-rated basis in line with their contractual working hours. The figures do not include Board of Management members and employees in vocational training.