Average salary increases by 8 thousand lek, salaries in the state are growing faster than those in the private sector

The average salary in the country has increased by about 8,376 lekë in the space of a year. Data from the Institute of Statistics shows that from 75,025 lekë at the end of 2023, the average salary reached 83,401 lekë in the fourth quarter of last year.

Klajdi Bregu, an economic expert, told A2 CNN: "What is happening is this: on the one hand we have the government making a lot of noise about increasing wages and the majority of society feeling little effect. Increasing the average wage at these levels is nothing. I would sum it up as 'much ado about nothing.'"

The noise is louder than the money that is coming into their pockets, also confirmed by Alberta, a young employee who hopes to have a salary of 900 euros: "I am 22 years old and I graduated in "Graphic Design". I started with a minimum wage. Now there has been a small increase, but in relation to living expenses I receive so little that it is not enough for me. I have not felt any major salary increase."

Data from the Institute of Statistics shows that the growth in the average salary, although anemic, is accompanied by a widening gap between the state and the private sector. The average salary in the public administration reached 100,437 lek, while in the private sector it was only 76,000 lek.

Emian Muçaj, an employment expert, says: "The increase has come mainly as a result of the policy undertaken by the government to increase wages in order to curb emigration. Also, today the labor market is suffering for employees, so wages are increasing. But, these gaps between the state and the private sector are not good for the market."

Meanwhile, the gaps have also widened between what employees receive in different professions. According to INSTAT, bank and insurance company employees had an average salary that at the end of last year reached almost 163 thousand lek, followed by those qualified in information technology with 121,578 lek. Meanwhile, in agriculture, which makes up almost half of the population, they are paid an average of only 54,411 lek, so if we remove social and health insurance, what a farmer receives does not exceed 42,000 lek. (A2 Televizion)