In the IV quarter of the 2020, the average monthly nominal earnings in Georgia decreased by 0.4 percent or 5 GEL compared to the same quarter of the previous year and amounted to 1,314 GEL.
However, in Q4, 2020 the average monthly earnings of hired employees in the business sector increased by 12.2 GEL and equaled to 1,417 GEL.
Ramaz Gerliani, head of the Center for Economic Transformation explains such a small change in statistics by the unemployment growth.
According to Ramaz Guerlian, unemployment hit a record high in the fourth quarter and the salaries were reduced by statistics, but average wages were grown.
"Salary increases in some sectors may be related to the end of the year. It means that if the company has any reserves, they are issued as a salary. I can have a business, but at the end of the year I will withdraw the money in the form of salary.
In addition, many people lost their jobs because of COVID-related restrictions and they became the beneficiaries of state assistance, the matter concerns about 150 thousand people. State benefits are based on the average wage statistics, hence average wages are risen in some sectors. It turned out that we gave up 600 GEL salaries in statistics and high-paying positions remained. On the whole, the number of employees has decreased and the average salary has increased," said Ramaz Gerliani.
