Estonian wages up 1.2% a year
30.08.2010, 09:17Estonian average monthly gross wages rose an annual 1.2 percent in the second quarter to 12,869 kroons (822 euros), Statistics Estonia said today.
Average gross wages were 12,343 kroons (789 euros) in April, 12,381 kroons (791 euros) in May and 13,891 kroons (888 euros) in June. The average year-on-year monthly gross wages had been in falling trend for five quarters in succession.
Hourly gross wages and salaries were 75.81 kroons (4.85 euros) or 1.7% lower than a year ago.
Real wages which take into account the influence of the change in the consumer price index decreased for the seventh quarter in succession, but the decrease has slowed down. In the 2nd quarter of 2010 real wages decreased by 1.9%.
Average monthly gross wages increased the most in mining (19.4%) and decreased the most in real estate activities (17.5%). The big increase in mining and quarrying was caused by the significant increase of payments to employees paid irregularly (bonuses) in the 2nd quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Compared to the 2nd quarter of 2009, the average hourly gross wages increased the most in agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.3%) and decreased the most in real estate activities (18.2%).
In the 2nd quarter of 2010, the employer’s average monthly labour costs per employee were 17,341 kroons (1,114 euros) and the average hourly labour costs were 117.26 kroons (7.49 euros). Compared to the 2nd quarter of 2009, the average monthly labour costs per employee increased 0.8% and the average hourly labour costs decreased 2.7%.
Compared to the 2nd quarter of 2009, the average monthly labour costs per employee increased the most in mining and quarrying (18.2%), and decreased the most in real estate activities (16.5%).
As at the end of June, the number of employees was 7.3% smaller than in 2009 at the same time.