The average gross salary in 2018 was HRK 8,448, HRK 392 or 3.3% more in real terms than in 2017, RBA analysts said in a comment on a recent report by the national statistical office.
"The evident growth of net and gross salaries in 2018 was owing, among other things, to a 5% increase in the minimum wage in January 2018, whose gross amount was HRK 3,439.8 and net amount HRK 2,752," the analysts said.
The growth in salaries was also owing to an increase in salaries in the public sector, based on a decision of August 2017 on an increase in salaries of public sector and government employees.
The wage increase was also owing to tax changes and an increase in the nontaxable part of bonuses from HRK 2,500 to HRK 7,500, they said.
The analysts expect the wage growth to continue this year as well on the back of tax changes as well as a lack of qualified labour in a considerable number of sectors, which, they say, is due to education policies not being aligned with labour market needs as well as increased emigration.