According to the results of annual statistics, the average wage of on-duty staff and workers in urban units reached 29,229 yuan in 2008, daily average wage stood at 111.99 yuan.

The average wage of on-duty staff and workers in urban units went up 4,297 yuan, increased 17.2 percent, or 1.5 percentage points dropped, year-on-year. Conducted the price of commodities factor, the real growth rate was 11.0 percent.

I. Regional differences in average wage

In terms of different regions, the average wage of 9 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) was higher than the national average, which occupied 30.0 percent; while that of 22 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) was lower than the national average, which took up 70.0 percent. Divided into four regions, descending order of average wage followed by the eastern, western, north-eastern and central regions, which stood at 34,316 yuan, 25,602 yuan, 25,101 yuan and 24,390 yuan, respectively.

In terms of average wage growth rate divided into regions, there were 14 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) exceeded the 17.2 percent of the national average, while that of 17 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) were contrarily. Divided into four regions, descending order of average wage growth rate of on-duty staff and workers in urban units followed by north-eastern, western, central and eastern regions, which respectively stood at 18.7, 17.6, 17.2 and 16.4 percent.

II. Industrial differences in average wage

In terms of different industries, various industries have different average wage growth rate of on-duty staff and workers, the vast majority of growth was more than 2,000 yuan as compared over the previous year. The top three highest average wage industries are: securities industry, hit 172,123 yuan, 5.9 times of the national average; other financial activities industry stood at 87,670 yuan, 3.0 times of the national average; 75,769 yuan in the air transport industry, 2.6 times of the national average. The top three lowest average wage industries are: manufacturing of wood processing and wood, bamboo, cane products accounting for 15,663 yuan, occupied 53.6 percent of the national average; textiles industry valued at 16,222 yuan, took up 55.5 percent of the national average; agricultural and sideline products processing industry reached 17,559 yuan, owned 60.1 percent of the national average. The ratio of highest and lowest average wage in the industry stood at 11:1.

The textile industry and manufacturing of textile, garments, shoes and hats got greater impacts on international financial crisis, the average wage of on-duty staff and workers was accounting for 16,222 and 18,572 yuan respectively, with the growth rate of 17.0 and 11.1 percent. The average growth rate of on-duty staff and workers in financial industry, of which, the security industry was 20.4 percent, that of the banking industry was 27.2 percent, and that of the other financial activities industry was 26.0 percent.

III. Differences in the average wage between different types of units

In view of the packet data of enterprises, institutions, and organs, in 2008, the highest average wage of on-duty staff and workers in urban units was organs, which stood at 33,869 yuan, 1.16 times of the national average; the institutions valued at 29,758 yuan, 1.02 times of the national average; that of the lowest was enterprises, reached 28,359 yuan, took up 97.0 percent of the national average. The average wage of organs and institutions was slightly higher than the national average, that of the enterprises was contrarily, which has not changed over the years.

In view of urban units by the type of registration, the average wage of limited cooperation reached 35,324 yuan, 1.21 times of the national average; that of foreign-invested enterprises, which hit 32,653 yuan, 1.12 times of the national average; that of state-owned enterprises topped 31,005 yuan, 1.06 times of the national average; and that of the lowest was collective units, which totaled at 18,338 yuan, took up 62.7 percent of the national average.

Note:

According to the existing statistical system, the average wage of on-duty staff and workers in urban units covers the state-owned units, urban collective units, as well as units of associated economy, joint-stock economy, foreign- funded units, units funded by entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, while that excluding the private enterprises and self-employed individuals. Total amount wages refers to the total remuneration payment to staff and workers in various units during a certain period of time, which including hourly wages, piece-rate wages, bonuses, allowances and subsidies, overtime pay, wages paid under special circumstances, no matter if it accounted to the costs, or whether it paid by monetary forms or real objects, are all included. Total amount wages calculated the individual pre-tax wages, which including pension, medical care, housing, and other personal account of the fund. The average wage equals total wage bill of staff and workers divided by the average number of staff and workers within the year (quarter).

(National Bureau of Statistics April 10, 2009)