EMPLOYEES UNDER LABOUR CONTRACT AND GROSS AVERAGE WAGES AND SALARIES, SECOND QUARTER OF 2020

According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, the number of employees by the end of June 2020 has decreased by 23.5 thousand, or by 1.0%, compared to the end of March 2020, reaching the number of 2.24 million. Compared to the end of the first quarter of 2020, the largest decrease in the number of employees was observed in the following economic spheres "Culture, sports and entertainment" - by 4.5%, "Manufacturing" - by 3.5%, and "Mining and quarrying" - by 2.9. %. The largest increase in the number of employees by employment and official relations was registered in the seasonal branches: "Hotels and restaurants" - by 8.4%, and "Agriculture, forestry and fishing" - by 5.0%.

In the structure of hired employees by economic activities the largest is the relative share of employees by employment and service in the activities "Manufacturing" and "Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" - respectively by 21.0 and 17.3%.

At the end of June 2020, compared to the end of June 2019, the number of employees has decreased by 111.5 thousand, or by 4.7%. The largest decrease in the number of employees was observed in the economic fields of "Hotels and restaurants" - by 48.8 thousand, "Manufacturing" - by 31.0 thousand, and "Trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles "- by 12.8 thousand, and the largest increase - in Creation and dissemination of information and creative products; telecommunications "- with 6.0 thousand. In percentage terms, the decrease was most significant in the economic activities "Hotels and restaurants" - by 34.9%, "Real estate activities" - by 7.4%, and "Culture, sports and entertainment" - by 7.2%, and the largest increase is registered in "Creation and dissemination of information and creative products; telecommunications "- by 6.3%.

The average gross monthly salary for April 2020 is BGN 1,323, for May - BGN 1,333, and for June - BGN 1,355.

In the second quarter of 2020 the average monthly salary was BGN 1,337 and has increased compared to the first quarter of 2020 by 1.5%. The economic activities in which the largest increase was registered were "Financial and insurance activities" - by 7.9%, and "Education" - by 7.0%. The most significant decrease in wages was registered in the economic activities "Hotels and restaurants" - by 12.2%, and "Culture, sports and entertainment" - by 8.6%.

In the second quarter of 2020 the average monthly salary has increased by 6.1% compared to the second quarter of 2019, with the largest increase in the economic activities "Real estate activities" - by 15.6%, "Education" - by 12.2% , and “Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities ”- by 9.0%.

The economic activities with the highest average monthly remuneration of employees by employment and official legal relationship in the second quarter of 2020 are:

• "Creation and dissemination of information and creative products; telecommunications "- BGN 3,270;
• "Financial and insurance activities" - BGN 2,287;
• "Production and distribution of electricity and heat and gaseous fuels" - BGN 2,105.

 The lowest paid were the employees in the following economic fields:

• "Hotel and restaurant business" - BGN 647;
• "Other activities" - BGN 903;
• "Agriculture, forestry and fishing" - BGN 973.

Compared to the same period of the previous year, the average monthly salary in the second quarter of 2020 in the public sector increased by 6.9%, and in the private sector - by 5.8%.