The earnings of employees in Covasna county (Eastern Transylvania) rose by 33.9 percent between January 2017 and January 2018, the highest pace in Romania, while wages in Bucharest and its neighboring Ilfov county increased only marginally during the same period, losing purchasing power, regional statistics of the National institute of Statistics (INS) show, according to Business-Review.eu.
The highest wage growth rates over the last 12 months were recorded Covasna (+33.9 percent), Braila (+24 percent), Ialomita (+22.5 percent), Salaj (21.4 percent) and Giurgiu (+20.6 percent), according to calculations by Business Review.
On the other hand, the lowest growth rates for earnings were registered, during the same period, in Bucharest (+1.2 percent), Ilfov (+1.7 percent), Mures (+4.3 percent), Brasov (+6.4 percent), Sibiu and Caras-Severin (both +8.2 percent).
The highest net monthly earnings of employees were recorded in Bucharest (RON 3,228, EUR 694 in January), Cluj (RON 2,750, EUR 591), Ilfov (RON 2,682, EUR 577), Timis (RON 2,604, EUR 560), Sibiu (RON 2,516 , EUR 541), Iasi (RON 2,453, EUR 528) and Brasov (RON 2,384, EUR 513), all the other counties in Romania posting average net wages below EUR 500.
These numbers show that high wages are concentrated in only five areas of Romania: the Capital city and its surroundings (Bucharest-Ilfov), the three major regional centers from Transylvania, Banat and Moldova provinces (Cluj, Timisoara and Iasi) and Southern Transylvania (the highly urbanized and industrialized counties of Sibiu and Brasov).
At the opposite end, in 11 out of the 42 counties of Romania (including Bucharest), net monthly average earnings are still below RON 2,000 (EUR 430): Neamt (EUR 415), Caras-Severin (EUR 416), Suceava (EUR 416), Botosani (EUR 419), Harghita (EUR 421), Vrancea (EUR 424), Valcea (EUR 425), Vaslui (EUR 426), Buzau (EUR 428), Teleorman (EUR 429) and Hunedoara (EUR 430).
Photo: Bihon.ro
