Wages were higher by 3.0% year on year; in the eight months to the end of August they were higher by 4.7%. Wage growth is increasingly slow.

Employment, unemployment, wages

Central Statistical Office (GUS): In August average employment in the corporate sector fell, like in July, by 2.2% year on year. Since the number of registered unemployed increased only slightly compared with July, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 10.8%. According to the labour demand survey, the number of new jobs created in the first half of this year was smaller than a year before. In August the average gross monthly wage in the corporate sector rose less in nominal terms year on year than in July – 3.0% against 3.9%. After a slight increase noted in July, the purchasing power of average gross wages dropped again by 0.5% y/y. But gross old-age and disability pensions in both systems continued to grow at a rate similar to the previous month’s. (GUS, “Report on the Country’s Socio-Economic Situation, September 2009,” p. 3-4; www.stat.gov.pl)