Wage and salary earners' earnings rose by 4.4 per cent in January-March

Corrected on 2 June 2009: In the table the figure Index of wage and salary earnings 2005=100, 2008/4, has changed (previously 115,2).

According to preliminary data of Statistics Finland, the nominal earnings of wage and salary earners rose by 4.4 per cent in January-March 2009 when compared with the respective period in 2008. The increase in earnings slowed down in the first quarter on account of a decrease in performance-based bonuses. The year-on-year rise in real earnings adjusted for the change in consumer prices stood at 2.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.

During the period from January-March 2008 to the respective period in 2009 the nominal earnings of wage and salary earners rose in the central government sector by 7.1 per cent, in the private sector by 4.3 per cent and in the local government sector by 3.9 per cent.

According to revised data and compared with the year before, the average increase in the level of earnings during 2008 was 5.6 per cent and the increase in real earnings was 1.4 per cent.

Index of wage and salary earnings 2005=100 and year-on-year change in earnings, preliminary data

Year and quarter	2005=100	Year-on-year change in level of earnings	Year-on-year change in real earnings
2008	112,3	5,6	1,4
2008/3	112,3	6,2	1,5
2008/4	115,3	5,4	1,5
2009/1	115,1	4,4	2,8

Wage and salary earners' average earnings for regular working hours in January-March 2009 were roughly EUR 2,880 per month. Men earned, on average, roughly EUR 3,210 and women EUR 2,590. The average earnings of monthly wage earners were roughly EUR 3,010 and the imputed monthly earnings of hourly wage earners EUR 2,420.

Wage and salary earners' regular earnings increased by 5.0 per cent in January-March

According to preliminary data of Statistics Finland, wage and salary earners' regular earnings rose by 5.0 per cent in January-March 2009 when compared with the respective period in 2008. The year-on-year increase in regular earnings in the first quarter was 0.6 per cent faster than that of the index of wage and salary earnings, as the performance-based bonuses included in the index of wage and salary earnings decreased in the first quarter.

Regular earnings rose in the central government sector by 7.1 per cent, in the private sector by 5.1 per cent and in the local government sector by 3.9 per cent.

Wage and salary earners' regular earnings refer to earnings for regular working hours exclusive of performance-based bonuses and other irregularly paid one-off items.

Source: Index of wage and salary earnings, 1st quarter Statistics. Finland

Inquiries: Mr Harri Nummila +358 9 1734 3235, Mr Pekka Haapala +358 9 1734 3460, palkat.indeksit@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Kari Molnar

Index of wage and salary earnings 2009, 1st quarter (pdf 321.2 kB)

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Last updated 2.6.2009

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of wage and salary earnings [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-7814. 1st quarter 2009. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 22.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ati/2009/01/ati_2009_01_2009-05-29_tie_001_en.html