Overview

• Nominal wages rose 4.1% year over year in the second quarter while consumer prices increased 2.1%, resulting in a 1.9% gain in real wages.
• The lowest-paid fifth of full-time workers saw earnings rise 6.5%, compared with 2.5% for the highest-paid fifth.
• Across all full-time employees, wages increased 4.3% in the quarter.
• Minijob workers recorded only a 0.6% wage increase, while apprentices posted a stronger 5.5% rise.
• WSI analyst Malte Lübcker welcomed the improvement but noted that inflation has left real wages below their level in the second quarter of 2019, according to the Federal Statistical Office.