Latvijas Statistika

29.05.2009
On changes of wages in the 1st quarter of 2009

Monthly average gross wages and salaries in the country in 1st quarter of 2009 comprised LVL 469, according to the data of Central Statistical Bureau. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 wages and salaries reduced by 6.2%, but in comparison with the first quarter of previous year wages and salaries in the country still continue to grow - by 3.5%.

Compared to the first quarter of 2008 growth of wages and salaries in private sector in first three months of 2009 comprised 5.1% (from LVL 422 to LVL 444), but in public sector wages and salaries reduced by 1.4% (from LVL 520 to LVL 512).

Average monthly gross wages and salaries by sectors (LVL)

	1^st quarter 2008	2^nd quarter 2008	3^rd quarter 2008	4^th quarter 2008	1^st quarter 2009	Changes of 1^st quarter 2009 as % of 4^th quarter 2008	Changes of 1^st quarter 2009 as % of 1^st quarter 2008
Total	453	477	487	500	469	-6.2	3.5
Public sector	520	567	573	607	512	-15.7	-1.4
Private sector	422	435	447	447	444	-0.6	5.1

It should be noted that number of employees for which wages and salaries were calculated has decreased. Compared to the first quarter of previous year the number of employees recalculated in full-time units, which are used for the calculations of average monthly wages and salaries, in the first quarter of this year reduced by 125.8 thsd or by 13.9%. Fund of wages and salaries during this period diminished by LVL 134.0 mln or by 10.9%, but compared to the fourth quarter of previous year – by LVL 227.3 mln or by 17.2%.

Changes of average monthly gross wages and salaries according to new classification of economic activities are the following:

Average monthly gross wages and salaries by kind of economic activity
(LVL; according to NACE Rev. 2 classification)

	1^st quarter2008	4^th quarter2008	1^st quarter2009	Changes of 1^st quarter 2009 as % of 4^th quarter 2008	Changes of 1^st quarter 2009 as % of 1^st quarter 2008
Total	453	500	469	-6.2	3.5
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	392	411	388	-5.4	-0.9
Mining and quarrying	489	544	469	-13.9	-4.1
Manufacturing	390	423	406	-4.0	4.1
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	575	657	579	-11.9	0.7
Water supply; sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities	428	511	452	-11.6	5.4
Construction	418	458	454	-0.9	8.7
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	381	401	398	-0.8	4.2
Transport and storage	461	526	497	-5.5	7.8
Accommodation and food service activities	284	288	281	-2.4	-0.9
Information and communication	781	808	812	0.5	3.9
Financial and insurance activities	1124	1043	1046	0.3	-6.9
Real estate activities	365	396	370	-6.6	1.3
Professional, scientific and technical activities	532	582	559	-3.9	5.0
Administrative and support service activities	399	448	423	-5.7	6.1
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	637	686	588	-14.3	-7.6
Education	431	569	458	-19.5	6.2
Human health and social work activities	461	502	449	-10.6	-2.5
Arts, entertainment and recreation	417	451	395	-12.5	-5.4
Other service activities	276	308	321	4.3	16.3

What regards the Baltic States it should be noted that, compared to the first quarter of previous year gross wages and salaries in Estonia in first quarter of 2009 reduced by 1.5%, but in Latvia and Lithuania there was a slight increase of wages and salaries – by 3.5% and by 1.9%, respectively.

Average gross monthly wages and salaries in Baltic States (EUR)

More information on wages and salaries in Latvia may be found in the data base of the Central Statistical Bureau.

Prepared by the Wage Statistics Section
Ervins Rekke
Tel. 67366666

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¹⁾Public sector is state and local government commercial companies, as well as companies with state or local government part of capital 50% and more, foundations, associations and funds, and their commercial activities. Data on foundations, associations and funds and their commercial activities are not included in information.






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