The number of employees under labour contract at the end of March 2024 increased by 1.4% as compared to the end of December 2023 and reached 2.32 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The highest increase was observed in the economic activities: ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 6.1%, ‘Information and communication’ - by 5.3%, and ‘Professional, scientific and technical activities’ - by 3.2%. The highest decrease of the number of employees - by 0.6% was recorded in the economic activities ‘Mining and quarrying’, and ‘Administrative and support service activities’.
In the first quarter of 2024, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2023, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 3.5% and reached 2 198 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Other service activities’ - by 16.9%, ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 10.2%, and in ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 10.0%.
