The number of employees under labour contract at the end of March 2023 increased by 47.5 thousand, or 2.1%, as compared to the end of December 2022 and reached 2.31 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The highest increase was observed in economic activities: ‘Human health and social work activities’ - by 7.1%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 4.7%, and ‘Construction’ - by 4.3%. Decrease of the number of employees by 0.2% was recorded in economic activity ‘Public administration and defence; compulsory social security’.
In the first quarter of 2023, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2022, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 0.2% and reached 1 882 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Transportation and storage’ - by 6.1%, ‘Mining and quarrying’ - by 5.6%, in ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 5.3%, and in ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 4.2%.
