Bulgarian Monthly Wages Up 9% Q2 2011 Y/Y

The average monthly wages and salaries of Bulgarian employees under labor contract in April, May and June 2011 was BGN 711, 698 and 690, respectively.

The preliminary data was released Tuesday by the National Statistical Institute (NSI)

In the second quarter of 2011 in comparison with the first quarter of 2011 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 4.2% to BGN 699. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in the sectors "Financial and insurance activities" - 9.7%, "Mining and quarrying" - 7.3% and "Construction" - 6.9%.

Compared to the second quarter of 2010, the average monthly wages and salaries in the second quarter of 2011 rose by 9.2%. The highest growth rates were recorded in the sectors: "Information and communication" - 22.7%, "Professional, scientific and technical activities" - 20.6% and "Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" - 19.1%.

The economic activities with the highest wages and salaries in the second quarter of 2011 were: "Information and communication" – BGN 1 547, "Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply" – BGN 1 461, "Financial and insurance activities" – BGN 1 429.

The lowest wages and salaries were recorded in: "Administrative and support service activities" – BGN 448 and "Accommodation and food service activities" – BGN 452.

In comparison with a year earlier the average monthly wages and salaries in thr public sector grew by 3.8%, while in private sector - by 11.9%.

At the end of June 2011, the number of employees under labor contract in Bulgaria increased by 50.3 thousands or 2.3% as compared to the end of March 2011 and reached 2.20 million.

The highest increase was observed in the economic activities classified as "Accommodation and food service activities"- 41.7% and "Agriculture, forestry and fishing"- 5.3%.

Decrease of employees was recorded in economic activities "Education"- 2.1% and "Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" - 0.3%.

In the structure of employees by economic activities the biggest relative share of employees was in "Manufacturing" - 22.5% and "Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" - 17.7%.

At the end of June 2011, as compared to June 2010, the number of employees under labor contract declined by 29 thousands or 1.3%.

The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in the economic activities "Construction" - 16.3 thousands, "Manufacturing" - 15.5 thousands, and "Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" - 14.5 thousands. In percentages the highest decrease was in "Construction" - 11.1%, "Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply" - 4.7% and "Public administration and defense; compulsory social security" - 4.1%.

At the end of June 2011, the number of employees under labor contract in Bulgaria increased by 50.3 thousands or 2.3% as compared to the end of March 2011 and reached 2.20 million. File photo