In the 1st quarter, the average wages and salaries were 1,341 euros

The average monthly gross wages and salaries were 1,309 euros in January, 1,317 euros in February and 1,396 euros in March. Compared to the previous quarter, the average monthly gross wages and salaries decreased by 3.2%, mainly due to a decrease in irregular bonuses and premiums. The year-on-year growth in average monthly gross wages and salaries was 1 percentage point lower than in the previous quarter.

The increase in real wages was 5.5%. Real wages, which take into account the influence of the change in the consumer price index, increased slower compared to the 1st quarter of 2018 than the average monthly gross wages and salaries due to an increase in consumer prices. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, real wages have been increasing since the second half of 2011.

In the 1st quarter of 2019, by economic activity, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest in financial and insurance activities, energy and information and communication. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2018, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased the most in other service activities (activities of organisations, repair of household goods, beauty treatment), where the average monthly gross wages and salaries are among the lowest.

Compared to the 1st quarter of 2018, the average monthly gross wages and salaries in the 1st quarter of 2019 decreased in three economic activities – in agriculture, in real estate activities and in professional, scientific and technical activities.

The average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest in state institutions and enterprises (1,705 euros) and in enterprises owned by foreign private entities (1,601 euros). The year-on-year increase in average monthly gross wages and salaries in the 1st quarter of 2019 was fastest in state institutions and enterprises and slowest in enterprises owned by foreign private entities.

In the 1st quarter of 2019, by county, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were highest in Harju (1,469 euros) and Tartu (1,325 euros) counties and lowest in Hiiu (950 euros), Jõgeva (978 euros) and Valga (996 euros) counties. The year-on-year growth in average monthly gross wages and salaries was fastest in Lääne, Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru counties.

In the 1st quarter of 2019, the average monthly labour costs per employee were 1,798 euros and the hourly labour costs 11.6 euros. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2018, the average monthly labour costs per employee increased by 7.3%.

Statistics Estonia conducts the Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey on the basis of an international methodology since 1992. The average monthly gross wages and salaries have been given in full-time units to enable a comparison of different wages and salaries, irrespective of the length of working time. The hourly gross wages and salaries do not include remuneration for time not worked or irregular premiums. In short-term statistics, the average gross wages and salaries are measured as a component of labour costs. Labour costs include gross wages and salaries, employer’s contributions and employer’s imputed social contributions to employees.

The statistics are based on the questionnaire “Wages and salaries and labour force”, the deadline of which was 18 April 2019. Statistics Estonia published the quarterly summary in 28 working days. For the statistical activity “Wages and salaries”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.

Since 2018, the samples and questionnaires of statistical activities “Wages and salaries” and “Job vacancies and labour turnover” have been combined and data are collected with a new questionnaire “Wages and salaries and labour force”. In the 1st quarter of 2018, changes were made in the population and sample: the sample was optimised and non-profit organisations and foundations with less than 50 employees were included in the population. Data are collected with the new questionnaire “Wages and salaries and labour force”, which replaced the previous questionnaires “Wages and salaries” and “Wages and salaries by county”. From the 1st quarter of 2018, data by county are published according to the new administrative division.