Wages up 0.5% in third quarter 
 
Central Bureau of Statistics: Average salaries are rising by an 
estimated annualized 5.4%, far beyond expectation. 
 
by Zeev Klein    
Globes 
December 8, 2005
 
Average monthly salaries rose 0.5% in real terms in the third 
quarter of 2005, reaching NIS 7,582 at the end of September, 
compared with a 1.4% rise in the second quarter, according to 
figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The bureau 
said that average salaries were rising by an estimated annualized 
5.4%, far beyond expectations. 630,000 employees, a quarter of 
the total, earned a gross monthly wage of NIS 1,927 or less in 
the third quarter, 43% less than the NIS 3,335 legal minimum 
wage, and 75% less than the nationwide average. 
103,800 employees, 4% of the total, held down another job, 
in addition to their regular job. They earned a monthly average of 
NIS 7,799 2.4% above the nationwide average. 

Legal foreign workers earned a monthly average of NIS 4,086, 
46% less than the nationwide average. If workers from the 
Palestinian Authority are included, the nationwide average 
monthly wage is NIS 7,486. 

There were over 2,44 million Israeli employees in September, 
reflecting an annualized increase of 3.6%. Israel also had 
60,900 legal foreign workers and 5,000 legal Palestinian workers 
from the territories. 

Employees at Mekorot National Water Company and the 
Israel Electric Corporation earned the highest salaries -- 
a monthly average of NIS 18,125, 2.4 times the nationwide 
average. The lowest average monthly wage was in the hotel and 
catering services sector -- NIS 3,570, 53% less than the 
nationwide average. 

Salaries were also low in agriculture, where employees earned 
a monthly average of NIS 4,916, 35% less than the nationwide 
average.