According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) at the end of December 2013 the number of employees under labour contract has decreased by 57.1 thousands or 2.5% as compared to the end of September 2013 and has reached 2.21 million. The highest decrease was observed in economic activities “Accommodation and food service activities” - 20.0%, “Agriculture, forestry and fishing” - 9.4% and “Arts, entertainment and recreation”- 7.4%. Increase of employees was recorded in “Information and communication” - 1.0%.
In the structure of employees by economic activities the biggest relative share of employees was in “Manufacturing” - 21.8% and “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” - 17.5%.
At the end of December 2013 as compared to December 2012 the number of employees under labour contract has declined by 12.5 thousands or 0.6%. The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in economic activities “Manufacturing” - 8.5 thousands, “Administrative and support service activities” - 4.5 thousands and “Accommodation and food service activities” - 4.1 thousands. In percentages, the highest decrease was in “Real estate activities” - 4.2%, “Accommodation and food service activities” - 4.1% and “Administrative and support service activities”- by 3.6%.
The average gross monthly wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract in October was 820 BGN, in November - 818 BGN and in December 2013 - 846 BGN.
In the fourth quarter of 2013 in comparison with the third quarter of 2013 the average monthly wages and salaries have increased by 4.7% getting 828 BGN. The highest decrease in wages and salaries was reported in “Education” - 14.7%, “Arts, entertainment and recreation” - 8.7% and “Human health and social work activities” - 6.8%.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 the average monthly wages and salaries in the fourth quarter of 2013 have risen by 3.1%. The highest growth rates were recorded in economic activities: “Agriculture, forestry and fishing” - 10.4%, “Education” - 9.0% and “Human health and social work activities” - 5.7%.
The economic activities with the highest wages and salaries in the fourth quarter of 2013 were:
- “Information and communication” - 1 846 BGN
- “Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply” - 1 522 BGN
- “Financial and insurance activities” - 1 517 BGN.
The lowest wages and salaries were recorded in:
- “Accommodation and food service activities” - 546 BGN
- “Administrative and support service activities” - 554 BGN
- “Other services activities” - 569 BGN.
In comparison with a year earlier the average monthly wages and salaries in public sector have grown by 6.1%, while in private sector - by 2.0%.