Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Notes contents

5. Employee information

All figures in £ millions	Notes	2009	2008
Employee benefit expense
Wages and salaries (including termination benefits and restructuring costs)		1,632	1,317
Social security costs		152	119
Share-based payment costs	26	37	33
Retirement benefits – defined contribution plans	25	62	41
Retirement benefits – defined benefit plans	25	18	37
Other post-retirement benefits	25	2	6
		1,903	1,553

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

Average number employed	2009	2008
Employee numbers
North American Education	15,606	15,412
International Education	8,899	5,718
Professional	2,662	2,641
FT Publishing	2,328	2,379
Interactive Data	2,459	2,413
Penguin	4,163	4,112
Other	1,047	909
Continuing operations	37,164	33,584
Discontinued operations	–	96
	37,164	33,680