(Yicai Global) May 19 -- The average gross annual salary of China’s urban employees in the private sector rose 7.7 percent last year from the previous year to CNY57,727 (USD8,965), according to the latest data.

The average wage growth rate dropped 0.4 point from 2019, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics today. The actual year-on-year increase was 5.3 percent after deducting price factors, it added.

Those who live in China’s eastern regions earned the most with an average pay packet of CNY63,601 (USD9,877), followed by those in the west with CNY50,510 a head, CNY48,861 in the country’s central areas and CNY43,928 in the north, the NBS said. These salary scales gained 6.9 percent, 8 percent, 11.2 percent and 10.2 percent year on year respectively.

Those working in information transmission, software and information technology earned the most with a yearly salary of CNY101,281 (USD15,730) each, nearly double the national average. Careers in finance as well as technical services also paid well with average wages of CNY82,930 and CNY72,233.

Those employed in the transportation, catering, hotel and tourism industries experienced a drop in earnings due to the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. The average wage in the hotel and restaurant sectors fell 3 percent, compared with an increase of 4.3 percent in 2019.

Employees in the non-private sector did better on average, with salaries growing 7.6 percent to a mean of CNY97,379 (USD15,123), the NBS said. The growth rate was 2.2 points lower than in 2019 and the slowest since 1984.

Editor: Kim Taylor