Compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, average monthly gross wages and salaries decreased by 4.6 percent. According to Statistics Estonia analyst Karina Valma, this is due primarily to a decrease in irregular bonuses.

"Compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, irregular bonuses decreased by 37 percent, which is normal at the beginning of the year," said Valma.

The average monthly labor cost per employee was €1,876, which is 4.3 percent higher than the year before.

In the first quarter of 2020, average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest in Harju (€1,546) and Tartu (€1,380) Counties and lowest in Valga (€1,079), Jõgeva (€1,078) and Hiiu (€996) Counties. On-year growth, meanwhile, was fastest in Põlva (13.1 percent), Järva (11 percent) and Lääne-Viru (10.9 percent) Counties.

By economic activity, average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest in information and communication (€2,537), financial and insurance activities (€2,529) and energy (€2,338). Compared to the first quarter of 2019, average monthly gross wages and salaries increased the most in information and communication (15.6 percent). Average monthly gross wages and salaries decreased only in wholesale and retail trade (8.7 percent).

Average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest at state institutions and enterprises (€1,814) and enterprises owned by foreign private entities (€1,715). The on-year growth of average monthly gross wages and salaries was fastest, meanwhile, in enterprises owned by foreign private entities (7.1 percent) and slowest in enterprises owned by Estonian private entities (3.2 percent).

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