The average wage rate for the major job sectors in Hong Kong increased by 2.7% in December 2007 over a year earlier.

According to figures released by the Census and Statistics Department, 61% of the companies recorded increase in average wage rates in December 2007 compared with a year earlier, whereas 27% of the companies decreased in average wage rates over the same period. The remaining 12% recorded no change in average wage rates.

For the real wage indices, there was a year-on-year increase of 0.4% in the personal services sector. As for all the other sectors, there were decreases ranging from 0.2% to 1.4%.

The wage rate includes basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses.