Sofia, March 22 (BTA) - The total hourly labour cost rose by 10
per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the
corresponding quarter of 2019, according to preliminary data
released by the National Statistical Institute on Monday.

The total hourly labour cost grew by 4.6 per cent in industry,
by 8.2 per cent in services and by 6.0 per cent in construction.

The breakdown by economic activities shows that the highest
annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in the
following sectors: education 25.6 per cent; human health and
social work activities 24.7 per cent; and real estate activities
 by 20.5 per cent.

Decreases in total labour costs were recorded in the arts,
entertainment and recreation sector by 2.4 per cent, and in
accommodation and food service activities by 0.9 per cent.

In the structure of the total labour costs, the wages and
salaries costs per hour worked increased by 10 per cent compared
 to a year earlier, while the other (non-wage) costs rose by
10.1 per cent. Among the economic activities in the fourth
quarter of 2020, compared to a year earlier, the growth rate of
the wages and salaries component ranged from 24.8 per cent in
education to minus 3.1 per cent in the arts, entertainment and
recreation. NV/MY