The number of employees under labour contract at the end of December 2022 decreased by 0.7%, as compared to the end of September 2022 and reached 2.26 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute. The highest decrease was observed in economic activities: ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 5.9%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’- by 5.8% and ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’ - by 4.5%. The highest increase in the number of employees was recorded in economic activities: ‘Education’ - by 1.2% and ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ - by 1.1%.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, in comparison with the third quarter of 2022, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 7.8% and reached 1 879 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Education’ - by 19.7%, ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ - by 14.9%, in ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 12.6% and in ‘Human health and social work activities’ - by 11.0%.