Gross hourly wages in Italy increased by an average 2.3% in 2007, according to data released Thursday by Italian statistics institute Istat.
The increase per capita stood at 2.2%.
The construction sector registered a 4.4% rise, followed by the electricity, gas and water sector with 4.0%, and the rubber and plastics industry with 3.9%.
The credit sector reported a 0.4% climb in gross hourly wages, and salaries in Italian ministries went up 1.1%. The gross hourly wages in schools remained unchanged.
A total of 34 collective labour agreements were renewed in the period. The renewed agreements involved 3.9 million employees, or 34.6% of the total in Italy.
Some 21 collective labour agreements expired at the end of 2007. These contracts affect 5.8 million employees (47.4% of the total).
According to ISTAT, the average annual inflation rate in Italy was 1.8% in 2007.
