SOFIA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) — The average monthly wages and salaries in Bulgaria rose by 12.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 1,313 BGN (731 U.S. dollars), official preliminary data showed on Thursday.
According to the country’s National Statistical Institute (NSI), the highest growth rates were recorded in real estate activities (19.8 percent) and education (16.9 percent) to 1,190 BGN and 1,426 BGN respectively.
Employees in information and communication sector earned the highest wages and salaries, 3,090 BGN per month, while the lowest figures were recorded in accommodation and food service activities, at 766 BGN per month, the NSI said.
Meanwhile, NSI said the number of employees under labor contract at the end of December 2019 decreased by 2,600, or 0.1 percent year-on-year.
The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in manufacturing — with 12,900 people, while the highest increase was registered in information and communication — with 7,000 people, the NSI said. (1 BGN = 0.56 U.S. dollar) Enditem