RIGA - Wage growth in Latvia has yet to shown signs of any slowdown despite an expected cooling of the economy.
Year-end figures for 2007 released by the Central Bureau of Statistics show that public sector wages increased by 36 percent on average from 351 to 477 lats per month. Private sector wage growth was marginally lower at 30 percent, climbing from 277 to 362 lats.
Salaries increased most rapidly in the fishing sector. though starting from a low base, monthly wage packets for fishermen and people in related industries rose from 189 to 284 lats - an increase of more than 50 percent.
Latvians rank second behind Estonians as far as Baltic wages are concerned. Estonians earn 784 euros per month on average, Latvians 635 euros and Lithuanians 594 euros.
