August 12 (BTA) - According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) at the end of June 2020 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 23.5 thousand or 1.0 per cent as compared to the end of March 2020 and reached 2.24 million.

The highest decrease was observed in economic activities: ' Arts, entertainment and recreation' - 4.5 per cent, 'Manufacturing' - 3.5 per cent and in 'Mining and quarrying' - by 2.9 per cent. The highest increase of the number of employees was recorded in the seasonal activities: 'Accommodation and food service activities' - by 8.4 per cent and 'Agriculture, forestry and fishing' - by 5.0 per cent.

In the structure of employees by economic activities the biggest relative share of employees was in 'Manufacturing' - 21.0 per cent and 'Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles' - 17.3 per cent.

At the end of June 2020 as compared to June 2019 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 111.5 thousand or 4.7 per cent. The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in economic activities 'Accommodation and food service activities' - 48.8 thousand, 'Manufacturing' - 31.0 thousand, and 'Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles' - 12.8 thousand and the highest increase - in 'Information and communication' - 6.0 thousand. In percentages the highest decrease at the end of June 2020 as compared to June 2019 was in the economic activities 'Accommodation and food service activities' - by 34.9 per cent, 'Real estate activities' - by 7.4 per cent, and 'Arts, entertainment and recreation' - by 7.2 per cent, as the highest increase was reported in 'Information and communication' - by 6.3 per cent.

The average monthly wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract in April was 1,323 leva, in May - 1,333 leva and in June 2020 - 1,355 leva. In the second quarter of 2020 in comparison with the first quarter of 2020, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 1.5 per cent reaching 1,337 leva. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in 'Financial and insurance activities' - by 7.9 per cent and in 'Education' - by 7.0 per cent. The highest decrease was in the economic activities 'Accommodation and food service activities' - by 12.2 per cent, and in ' Arts, entertainment and recreation' - by 8.6 per cent.

Compared to the second quarter of 2019 the average monthly wages and salaries in the second quarter of 2020 rose by 6.1 per cent. The highest growth rates were recorded in economic activities: ' Real estate activities' - 15.6 per cent, 'Education' - 12.2 per cent and 'Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities' - 9.0 per cent.

The economic activities with the highest wages and salaries in the second quarter of 2020 were: 'Information and communication' - 3,270 leva, 'Financial and insurance activities' - 2,287 leva and 'Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply' - 2,105 leva.

The lowest wages and salaries were recorded in: 'Accommodation and food service activities' - 647 leva, 'Other service activities' - 903 leva and 'Agriculture, forestry and fishing' - 973 leva. In comparison with a year earlier, the average monthly wages and salaries in the public sector grew by 6.9 per cent and in the private sector - by 5.8 per cent.

RI/MT/МТ/