Average monthly salaries for mid-level managerial and professional employees in all major sectors surveyed taken together rose 0.4% in June over a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department says.

After discounting the increase in consumer prices, the real salary index fell 0.7%.

Increases were seen in manufacturing; electricity and gas; wholesale, retail and import/export; and transport, storage and communications. The rises ranged from 0.6% to 1.1%.

Building, construction and related trades, and the financial institutions and insurance sector both registered a 0.3％ fall.

The decrease in the financial institutions and insurance sector was largely due to the significant rise in the number of new recruits who were paid lower salaries than the existing staff, and internal staff movement.

Salary indices slip in most major sectors

After netting out the increase in consumer prices, the real indices fell in almost all the major sectors, ranging from 0.3% to 1.3%, though that of the transport, storage and communications sector rose 0.1% in real terms.

The overall index on salary changes due to general increment, meritorious increase and gain in seniority grew 2.1% in nominal terms and 1.1% in real terms.

In June, 59% of the mid-level managerial and professional employees covered in the survey were entitled to guaranteed year-end extra pay, 69% to profit-sharing bonuses, and 22% to housing benefits of some kind.

The figures for June last year were 57%, 67% and 20%.