Wages increased by 1% from the previous quarter
Wages have increased by 1.2% on average from the previous quarter according to the quarterly wage index in 1st quarter 2015. Annual increase from the 1st quarter 2014 was 5.9% on average, 4.6% in the private sector and 9.4% in the public sector. The annual increase was 7.4% for the central government employees and 11.6% for the local government employees.
Wages in the private sector by economic activity and occupational group
The largest wage increase from the previous quarter was 1.6% for Technicians and associate professionals. During the same period, wages increased the least for Craft workers or by 0.5%. The annual change of the wage index ranged from 3.1% for Craft workers to 6.6% for Technicians and associate professionals.
Wages in Manufacturing and Transport, storage and communication increased by 1.3% while wages in Wholesale and retail trade; repair increased by 0.6% between quarters. Annual change ranged from 3.4% in Manufacturing to 7.1% in Transport, storage and communication.
Collective agreements
Agreements between the State and municipalities with some state workers’ member unions affect the wage index in the first quarter of 2015.
In January 2014, a lump sum payment was paid according to agreements between the Minister of Finance, on behalf of the State Treasury and state workers member unions, signed in 2011. This payment no longer affects the wage index from January 2015.
About the wage index
The wage index is a quarterly index and shows the changes of regular hourly wages. Data for the private sector are published by occupational group and economic activity. Data for the public sector are published by administrative level. Employees in the public sector work for the municipalities and the central government. Other employees belong to the private sector.