site.btaAt Lv 1,095, Bulgaria's Average Monthly Wage in Fourth Quarter of 2017 Was 5.6 Per Cent Higher from Third Quarter

Sofia, February 13 (BTA) - In the fourth quarter of 2017, the average monthly wage in Bulgaria increased by 5.6 per cent from the third quarter, reaching 1,095 leva, according to preliminary figures released by the National Statistical Institute on Tuesday. The largest wage increases were reported in education (19.2 per cent), real estate activities (7.7 per cent) and other services activities (6.2 per cent).

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, the average monthly wage in the fourth quarter of 2017 rose by 10.6 per cent. The highest growth rates were recorded in education (18.5 per cent), other services activities (14.5 per cent) and administrative and support service activities (14.4 per cent).

Year on year, the average monthly wage grew by 10.2 per cent in the public sector and by 10.8 per cent in the private sector. The economic activities which paid the highest monthly wages in the fourth quarter of 2017 were information and communication (2,448 leva), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1,808 leva) and financial and insurance activities (1,783 leva).

The lowest monthly wages were recorded in accommodation and food service activities (647 leva), other services activities (789 leva) and construction (847 leva).

At the end of December 2017 the number of persons hired under an employment relationship decreased by 34,000 or 1.5 per cent from the end of September 2017 and reached 2,280,000.