Statistics Estonia 17 June 2015 – news release no 70
According to Statistics Estonia, in 2014, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were 1,005 euros and the average hourly gross wages and salaries were 6.14 euros. Compared to 2013, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased by 5.9% and the average hourly gross wages and salaries by 7.2%.

2013 saw the fastest growth of monthly gross wages and salaries after the recession (7.0%), while in 2014 the growth of monthly gross wages and salaries slowed down.

Real wages, which take into account the influence of the change in the consumer price index, increased for the fourth year in a row following the decline in 2010 – the rise was 6.0% in 2014. The acceleration of the growth of real wages was influenced by a fall in consumer prices in 2014.

The average monthly gross wages and salaries without irregular bonuses and premiums increased 6.1%. Compared to 2013, irregular bonuses and premiums increased 0.2% per salaried employee and slowed down the rise in average monthly gross wages by 0.2 percentage points.

The average monthly and hourly gross wages and salaries increased in all economic activities. Compared to 2013, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased the most in professional, scientific and technical activities (10.9%) and the hourly gross wages and salaries increased the most in financial and insurance activities (12.2%). The average monthly and hourly gross wages and salaries increased the least in information and communication (0.7% and 1.3%, respectively).

The average monthly gross wages and salaries remained the highest in financial and insurance activities, in information and communication and in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, where the wages and salaries exceeded the national average 1.7, 1.6 and 1.5 times, respectively.

In 2014, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were 1,037 euros in the public sector and 994 euros in the private sector. The increase in average gross wages and salaries compared to 2013 was 7.2% in the public sector and 5.4% in the private sector. The public sector includes companies owned by the state or local governments.

In 2014 compared to 2013, the average number of salaried employees recalculated at full-time units grew 4.6% (i.e. by 22,400) in the whole economy. The number of employees increased in the private sector (6.4%) and decreased in the public sector (0.3%).

In 2014, the average monthly labour costs per employee were 1,357 euros and the average hourly labour costs were 9.13 euros. Compared to 2013, the average monthly labour costs per employee increased by 5.7% and the average hourly labour costs by 6.6%. The increase in average monthly and hourly labour costs was the highest in professional, scientific and technical activities (10.7% and 12.7%, respectively) and the lowest in information and communication (0.2% and 0.7%, respectively) .

Statistics Estonia conducts the Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey on the basis of an international methodology since 1992. In 2014, the sample included 11,920 enterprises, institutions and organisations. The average monthly gross wages and salaries have been given in full time units to enable a comparison of different wages and salaries, irrespective of the length of working time. Calculations of the monthly gross wages and salaries are based on payments for actually worked time and remuneration for time not worked. The hourly gross wages and salaries do not include remuneration for time not worked (holiday leave pay, benefits, etc.). In short-term statistics, the average gross wages and salaries are measured as a component of labour costs. Labour costs include gross wages and salaries, employer’s contributions and employer’s imputed social contributions to employees (they do not include in-service training costs, recruitment costs and cost of work clothing).

The data on average monthly gross income per employee published by Statistics Estonia on 19 May 2015 were based on the data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board which do not take into account the length of working time (full- or part-time employment) and the number of hours worked. The average monthly gross income per employee is published mainly to provide a comparison of local government units, which is not available for average gross wages and salaries statistics.

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