Year-on-year wage growth in Hungary slowed to 8.7% in March from 9.8% in the previous month, data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday show.
The data for businesses and institutions with at least five people on payroll show the average gross monthly wage for full-time employees stood at 435,200 forints (EUR 1,247). The average net wage was 289,400 forints, and the average gross median wage 343,000 forints. Calculating with twelve-month consumer price index of 3.7% in March, real wage growth stood at 4.8%, KSH said. Excluding the 80,800 Hungarians working full time in fostered work programmes — who earned on average gross 84,900 forints in March — the average gross monthly wage in Hungary was 445,600 forints. The average gross wage in the business sector, which includes state-owned companies, rose by 8.0% to 453,000 forints, excluding fostered workers. The average gross wage in the public sector, excluding fostered workers, increased by 11.7% to 433,400 forints. People working in the ICT sector were the highest earners in March, getting a gross monthly 757,000 forints on average. People working in commercial accommodations and catering earned the least, 253,400 forints.
A broader set of data covering all full-time employees, not only the ones at employers with a payroll of five or more, show the average gross wage stood at 423,700 forints and the average net wage at 281,800 forints in March. The median gross wage was 329,800 forints. Excluding fostered workers, full-timers earned a gross monthly 433,100 forints and net 288,000 forints.
Data for January-March show men earned, on average, 19.2% more than women during the period. ING Bank chief analyst Péter Virovácz said double-digit wage growth in the public sector was supported by policy-driven pay rises, while the increase in the private sector was still well over the 4 % hike in the statutory minimum wage. He added that wage growth linked to the re-opening of the economy would be concentrated in the tourism, catering and entertainment sectors, where earnings are lower than average. He put full-year wage growth at around 9%. Takarékbank senior analyst András Horváth said employers are being forced to raise pay to retain labour and because of the inflation environment. Takarékbank expects full-year wage growth could reach 9%, he added.
hungarymatters.hu
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