In the second quarter of 2020, the average monthly gross wage and salary was EUR 1,433, up by 1% YoY, data from statistics Estonia showed. The year-on-year growth has not been as modest for ten years.
In the second quarter of 2020 the average monthly gross wages and salaries were the highest in Harju County at EUR 1,574 euros and Tartu County at EUR 1,451 and the lowest in Valga County at EUR 1,103 and Hiiu at EUR 1,025 county.
Year-on-year, wages and salaries increased the most in Hiiu and Voru counties by 5.6% each, but declined the most in Laane county, which saw a 9.6% drop.
By sector, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were the highest in information and communication (EUR 2,564), financial and insurance activities (EUR 2,499) and energy (EUR 2,118).
Compared to the second quarter of 2019, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased the most in the energy sector (10.7%) and decreased the most in wholesale and retail trade (11.9%).
Statistics Estonia’s analyst Karina Valma said: “While in the first quarter of this year, there was one economic activity where the average monthly gross wages and salaries decreased YoY (in trade by 8.7%), in the second quarter, wages decreased in almost half of the economic activities.”
The average monthly gross wages and salaries were the highest in state institutions and enterprises at EUR 1,858 euros and the average in enterprises owned by foreign private entities was EUR 1,754.
Compared to the second quarter of the previous year, gross wages and salaries increased the most in enterprises owned by foreign private entities (+4.1%) and declined the most in enterprises owned by Estonian private entities (-2.1%). (ERR/Business World Magazine)
