Wage index, Q1 2002, preliminary figures

The increase in monthly earnings for employees in the construction industry was 0.4 per cent from the 4th quarter 2001 to the 1st quarter 2002. The corresponding growth for employees in transport and communication was 1.1 per cent in the same period. Employees in wholesale and retail trade received a 0.7 increase in their monthly earnings from the 4th quarter 2001 to the 1st quarter 2002, while the corresponding growth for employees in real estate and business activities was 1.3 per cent in the same period. Employees in oil and gas extraction and mining received a 7 per cent increase in their monthly earnings from the 4th quarter 2001 to the 1st quarter 2002. High payments of bonuses explain some of the increase for employees in oil and gas extraction and mining.

Change over a year

Employees in the construction industry had a 4.3 per cent growth in monthly earnings from the 1st quarter 2001 to the 1st quarter 2002. The corresponding growth for employees in oil and gas extraction and mining was 10.5 per cent, while employees in transport and communication had a growth of 5.1 per cent. Employees in wholesale and retail trade had an increase of 5.9 per cent in the same period, while those in real estate and business activities had a growth of 4.5 per cent from the 1st quarter 2001 to the 1st quarter 2002.

Sample

The sample for the 1st quarter of 2002 includes approximately 186 200 full-time employees, broken down into 14 400 in oil and gas extraction and mining, 64 800 in manufacturing, 22 900 in construction, 27 800 in transport and communication, 27 500 in wholesale and retail trade and 28 800 in real estate and business activities. By comparison, the preliminary figures in the national accounts for the 4th quarter of 2001 show that there are about 26 000 persons employed in oil and gas extraction and mining, 290 000 in manufacturing, 113 000 in construction, 121 000 in transport and communication, 319 000 in wholesale and retail trade and 170 000 in real estate and business activities. The figures from the national accounts also include part-time employees.

Tables:

• Table 1 Index on average monthly earnings in manufacturing, oil and gas extraction and mining, construction, transport and communication, wholesale and retail trade, real estate and business activities. 1 st quarter 1998=100
• Table 2 Changes in average monthly earnings from the corresponding quarter the year before by industry. Per cent
• Table 3 Index on average basic paid salaries in manufacturing, oil and gas extraction and mining, construction, transport and communication, wholesale and retail trade, real estate and business activities. 1 st quarter 1998=100
• Table 4 Changes in average basic paid salaries from the corresponding quarter the year before by industry. Per cent