Sodra: wages grew on average 110 euros, the highest income was not from Vilnius residents

It is estimated that in the last quarter, the average income “in the hands” amounted to about 935 Eur.

“On average, the average income from work also increased by around 13 percent, which amounted to around 110 euros. We estimate that the average labor income “in the hands” amounts to about 935 euros, “says Kristina Zitikytė, advisor to Sodra’s Statistics, Analysis and Forecasting Division.

Comparing the amount of earned income that has changed throughout 2020, it is estimated that the average earned income increased by 8% in 2019. It was 9 percent.

“We see that growth has remained similar to the previous year,” says a Sodra spokeswoman.

During the year, the number of employees decreased by 24 thousand.

Evaluating the 2019 data from the last quarter and 2020. During the same period, almost 2% was observed. (around 24 thousand) decrease in employment. Subsequently, according to K. Zitikytė, the number of insured stabilized, which had decreased during the first quarantine.

“At the end of the year, the number of employees was 2 percent. Or 24 thousand. Lower. The first quarantine cut the ranks of workers. At that time, the number of insured was reduced by about 3 percent in the second quarter, about 36 thousand people left the labor market.

In the third quarter, some people returned to the labor market and in the fourth quarter, with the start of the second quarantine, the number of insured remained stable and there were no significant decreases. This may have been influenced by subsidies for downtime, which allowed some to save jobs, ”he says.

The highest income is in the municipality of Neringa

Average labor income did not grow in the same way in all municipalities. In the 10 municipalities with the highest average labor income, labor income growth was 9.5 percent. At that time, growth was 12 percent in the 10 municipalities with the lowest average labor income.

The highest average labor income in November last year was in the municipality of Neringa, where it amounted to 1930 Eur, in Vilnius – 1683 Eur, in the city and district of Kaunas – 1437 and 1393 Eur, respectively.

The tenth was completed by the municipality of the city of Panevėžys, where about 14 percent. growth in labor income (average salary in November last year – 1229 euros per month before taxes).

In municipalities with the lowest average labor income, labor income growth was faster, amounting to about 12 percent.

The lowest incomes were maintained in the municipality of Kalvarija, where they were almost twice as low as in Neringa: 1012 euros. Similar average wages were received in the municipalities of the Pagėgiai, Kelmė, Skuodas and Šilalė district.

thus 9.4% contributed to the rapid growth of wages. (from € 555 in 2019 to € 607 in 2020) the monthly minimum wage has been increased.

“In these municipalities, a higher proportion of employees work for MMA or lower wages. The proportion of these employees is higher and reaches 20%. The increase in MMA also contributed to faster revenue growth, ”notes K. Zitikytė.

Wages grew faster in education and human health

Sodra’s analysis shows that hotels and restaurants have been the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“In terms of average income, they increased in all economic activities except room and board, where average income fell 1.4 percent in November last year compared to the same period in 2019,” he said.

Wages grew faster in education and human health, by 17% and 18%, respectively. The highest revenues were maintained in information and communications and financial and insurance activities.

The largest increases in salaries during the year were for preschool teachers (35%), drivers of heavy machinery (about 25%), personal care and nursing professionals (more than 20%).
During the year, salaries for restaurant managers, bookmakers and chefs decreased the most.

“MMA had to be increased due to the growth in salaries, the salaries of teachers, pedagogues and health specialists had to be increased due to the increased workload,” says a representative from Sodra.

Small municipalities will face greater challenges in the labor market

Although the pandemic did not change the existing regional differences in labor income in the country, it did have a stronger impact on the number of insured.

“In 43 of the 60 municipalities, the number of insured decreased and, unfortunately, larger negative changes were often observed in those municipalities where previously there were fewer insured. In municipalities with lower incomes, the number of beneficiaries of unemployment benefits per 1,000 insured persons is higher than in municipalities with higher labor income and, consequently, the standard of living.

The pandemic reaffirmed this trend, since it was in the smaller municipalities that the number of beneficiaries of unemployment benefits increased relatively more. After every major economic shock, smaller municipalities need more time to recover than, for example, larger municipalities.

Therefore, it seems that after the pandemic we will face greater challenges in the labor market in small municipalities, ”says K. Zitikytė.

During the first quarantine, 5 times more than accepted were released

During the first quarantine, 25 thousand were released. more personal than accepted. During the second quarantine, 5 times less, 5 thousand. fired more than accepted.

During the first quarantine, the highest negative acceptance-dismissal balance was in manufacturing (-7.5 thousand), education (-7.2 thousand), wholesale and retail trade (-4.7 thousand).

In the second – under construction (-3.2 thousand), accommodation and administrative activities (-2.3 and -1.7 thousand, respectively).

The specialist points out that during the pandemic, unemployment among women and young people increased more.

“Women are looking for work longer, as are young people, but the pandemic is unprecedented. On the one hand, we see young people finding work faster, so young people are likely to find work faster. if quarantine restrictions are lifted.

As for women, structurally, the pandemic had a greater impact on those activities where the majority of workers were women. The situation of women in the labor market is likely to improve as the quarantine is eased, ”says a Sodra representative.

During the second quarantine, more workers were disabled

Although more people had Covid-19 disease during the second quarantine, the second was easier on the job market. Comparing the first and second quarantines, during the second most of the insured received certificates of disability. In the first, about 113 thousand, in the second, 156 thousand. for a longer or shorter period of time.

“The first important part was made up of parents who took care of the children after the schools and kindergartens closed. During the second quarantine, those who were ill and were unable to work due to illness ”, comments K. Zitikytė.

“This shows that the second quarantine affected fewer sectors of economic activity, we were more prepared for the second quarantine, there was less uncertainty when it started, so the distracting waves of the pandemic did not sink the labor market,” says a Division advisor of Statistics, Analysis and Forecasts of Sodra.