The average gross monthly wage in Estonia rose by 8.1% YoY in the first quarter of 2022, state agency Statistics Estonia reported, to EUR 1,593.
Argo Tarkiainen, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said: “Average gross wages were the lowest in accommodation and food services (EUR 974), other services (EUR 1,160) and real estate activities (EUR 1,162),” adding that the highest gross monthly wages were to be had in ICT (EUR 2,871), financial and insurance activities (EUR 2,764) and in the energy sector (EUR 2,655).
In most of these sectors, wages also grew.
“Wages increased the most in the energy sector (by 15.7%) and accommodation and food service activities (by 15%),” added Tarkiainen, while they fell, slightly, only in other service activities (by 1.3%).
By region, the highest gross monthly wages are in Harju County, including Tallinn (EUR 1,744) as well as in Tartu County (EUR 1,583).
They were the lowest in Valga (EUR 1,130) and Hiiu counties (EUR 1,033)
Year-on-year, the biggest growth in wages and salaries was recorded in Polva (by 14.8%) and Ida-Viru counties (by 13.2%).
The largest falls over that period were posted on Hiiumaa (-10.1%) and in Valga County (-0.8%).
The questionnaire “Wages and salaries and labor force” formed the basis of the above figures, Statistics Estonia said. The agency falls under the remit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. (ERR/Business World Magazine)