Average Monthly Wage Grows in Q4
The average gross monthly wage in the fourth quarter of 2011 stood at 864 euros, 6.3 percent higher than in the same period the year before, according to Statistics Estonia.
Of the 6.3 percent annual rise, 0.2 percent can be attributed to irregular bonuses and premiums.
The data also reveals that the average hourly gross pay in Q4 increased by 7.4 percent to 5.19 euros.
The wholesale and retail trade sector saw the largest average salary increase, 11.8 percent, while workers in the real estate sector were the biggest gainers for hourly pay, with wages growing by 15.5 percent over the year. The only employment sector that underwent a drop in monthly or hourly pay levels was the one statisticians call "other service activities" which excludes trade, hospitality, catering and administration. That sector saw salary and wage losses of 4.5 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
On a month-to-month basis, gross salaries showed a definite growth trend through last quarter, moving from 813 euros in October to 868 euros in November and 918 euros in December.
Real wages, which factor in changes in the consumer price index and purchasing power, were up by 2.1 percent, their second consecutive quarter in the black. Until the third quarter of last year, real wages had been down 11 months in a row.
The number of people employed in the country, according to the Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey, increased by 1.7 percent between the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2011.
Ingrid Teesalu