site.btaEmployees under Labour Contracts Down 0.2% in September, Y/Y

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) published on Friday, at the end of September 2022, the number of employees under labour contracts decreased by 32,000, or 1.4%, as compared to the end of June 2022 and reached 2.28 million. The highest drop was observed in economic activities: Accommodation and food service activities - by 17.0%, Arts, entertainment and recreation and Real estate activities - both by 2.2%. The highest increase in the number of employees was recorded in economic activities: Information and communication - up by 1.1% and Education - by 1%. 

The biggest relative share of employees in economic activities was in Manufacturing (20.5%) and in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (16.7%).

At the end of September 2022, the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 5,300, or by 0.2% year on year. The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in economic activities: Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (7,300), Manufacturing (7,100) and Construction (5,000). The highest increase was recorded in Information and communication (6,800) in Administrative and support service activities (5,400). In percentages, the highest year-on-year decrease at the end of September 2022, was in the construction sector (by 3.9%), Accommodation and food service activities (2.6%), and Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (2.4%). The highest increase was reported in Real estate activities, up by 8.1%, and in Information and communication up by 6.1%.

The average monthly wage of the employees under labour contract in July 2022 was BGN 1,750, it was 1,693 in August, and 1,787 in September. 

In the third quarter of 2022, in comparison with the second quarter of the year, the average monthly wage increased by 0.8% and reached BGN 1,743. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in Agriculture, forestry and fishing (by 7.8%), Public administration and defence, compulsory social security (7.3%), and Arts, entertainment, and recreation (6.1%). The highest decrease was recorded in Financial and insurance activities by 7.5% and in Mining and quarrying by 7.3%.

The average monthly wages and salaries in the third quarter of 2022 rose by 14.7%, compared to the third quarter of 2021. The highest growth rates were recorded in Agriculture, forestry and fishing (up by 17.8%), and in Public administration and defence, compulsory social security, and Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, both up by 17.3%.