The average net salary in Romania was of RON 1,682 (some EUR 380) in May this year, down by RON 53, or 3.1 percent, compared to the previous month, according to the National Statistics Institute INS. The average gross nominal salary was 2.8 percent lower, at RON 2,328 (EUR 526).

The highest average net salary was recorded in the extraction of crude oil and natural gas - RON 5,512 (EUR 1,247), while the lowest was registered in accommodation and food service activities - RON 959 (EUR 216).

Compared to April 2014, the most significant decreases in the average net earnings were recorded as follows:

• 20.7 percent in financial service activities (except insurance and pension funding)
• Between 10 percent and 17.5 percent in telecommunications, mining of coal and lignite, activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities, mining of metal ores, sewerage
• Between 8 percent and 10 percent in manufacturing other transport equipment, manufacturing other non-metallic mineral products, insurance, reinsurance and pension funding (except compulsory social security), beverage production, and air transport
• Between 5 percent and 8 percent in printing and reproduction of recorded media, warehousing and support activities for transportation, manufacturing paper and paper products, basic metal manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade (including repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles), water collection, treatment and supply, water transport

According to the INS, increases in the average net earnings were determined by the occasional bonuses and amounts from the net profit, by production achievements or higher receipts.

The most significant increases in the average net earnings have been recorded as follows:

• 28.8 percent in extraction of crude oil and natural gas
• Between 4 percent and 8.5 percent in the mining support service activities, manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, tobacco products manufacturing, land transport and transport via pipelines
• Between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent in the wood and wood products manufacturing, except furniture), manufacturing straw products and plaiting materials, leather  manufacturing oas well as administrative and support service activities

When compared to May 2013, the average net nominal earnings increased by 4.4 percent, according to INS.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com