Employee information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Text block1 [abstract]

Employee information

5. Employee information

All figures in £ millions	Notes		2017			2016			2015
Employee benefit expense
Wages and salaries (including termination costs)				1,567			1,661			1,507
Social security costs				130			124			124
Share-based payment costs		26		33			22			26
Retirement benefits – defined contribution plans		25		57			67			66
Retirement benefits – defined benefit plans		25		19			16			19
Other post-retirement medical benefits		25		(1	)		(2	)		—
Total				1,805			1,888			1,742

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

Average number employed	2017		2016		2015
Employee numbers
North America		16,295		16,841		19,951
Core		5,291		5,664		5,936
Growth		8,268		9,868		11,114
Other		485		346		264
Total		30,339		32,719		37,265

The employee benefit expense relating to discontinued operations was £nil (2016: £nil, 2015: £132m) and the average number employed was nil (2016: nil, 2015: 2,282).