Wages: regional overview

According to official statistics, wages adjusted for inflation, in January 2012 constituted 97.3% of the wages in January 2011.

However, reduced wages have not been recorded in all economic sectors and, moreover, the reduction of wages was uneven across industries and regions. In general, reduced incomes were accompanied by increased inequality among the population, creating additional factors of the growth of social tension.

According to the National Statistics Committee the average nominal wage actually two-folded in 2011 (January 2012 to January 2011) from Br 1.409 million to Br 2.880 million (204.1%). However, the inflation during the period reached 209.7%, respectively, wages, adjusted for inflation in January 2012 amounted to 97.3% of the January 2011 wages.

However, not all regions and sectors registered a decline in nominal wages adjusted for inflation. The nominal wage growth was uneven in both regional and sectoral breakdown. In particular, the highest growth was recorded in the Minsk oblast – 229.6%, however the region is not at the top of the list in terms of high salaries. In contrast, the city of Minsk, which (along with the Brest region) is an outsider in terms of the growth of wages, topped the list of regions in terms of the nominal accrued wages.

It should be noted that except for Minsk city and Minsk region, the average wages in all other regions are lower than the “average” in the country. Also, the predominantly industrial regions earn more than predominantly agricultural regions (Brest and Grodno region), and in the regions bordering with Russia wages are higher than in the “Western” border regions.