Wage Rate Index – 2nd Quarter 2019

The wage rate index increased by 0.5% or 0.6 point to reach 112.3 in the second quarter of 2019 from 111.7 in the first quarter 2019.

Main changes registered in the sub-indices from 1st Quarter 2019 to 2nd Quarter 2019 are:

Mining and quarrying		+4.2%
Administrative and support service activities		+1.9%
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles		+1.7%
Manufacturing		+1.6%
Electricity, gas steam and air conditioning supply		+1.6%
Professional, scientific and technical activities		+1.5%
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security		-0.6%
Human health and social work activities		-0.8%

The wage rate index for the general government sector, which accounts for around 34% of the total weight of the wage rate index, decreased by 0.5% to reach 105.6 in the second quarter of 2019, from 106.1 in the first quarter 2019, mainly explained by recruitment of new employees.

The index for the public sector, which comprises general government and public enterprises and accounting for around 46% of the wage rate index, decreased by 0.2% or 0.2 point from 109.7 in the first quarter 2019 to 109.5 in the second quarter 2019.

The index for the private sector, which accounts for around 54% of the total weight of the wage rate index, increased by 1.2% or 1.4 points from 113.3 in the first quarter 2019 to 114.7 in the second quarter 2019.