The increase of the per capita yearly pay is due mainly to the salary rises of employees. In 2002, enterprise profits soared and salary structure rearrangement promoted the rise of employees’ salaries. At the same time, weak enterprises were washed away during sector structural adjustment, which reduced the overall number of low-paid employees. According to data from the Bureau, enterprise employees’ yearly pay was raised 19.2 percent to 12,496 yuan (US$1,510), while public institutions was raised 3.6 percent to 11,901 yuan (US$1,438) and government agencies raised 7.7 percent to 13,054 yuan (US$1,577).

The per capita annual pay of the 16 national sectors increased between 8 and 17 percent in 2002. Except wholesale and retail (one sector) and food and drink, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery (another sector), the other 14 sectors’ per capita annual salaries all exceeded 10,000 yuan (US$1,208). Listed top is scientific research and comprehensive technology services (18,792 yuan or US$2,270), followed by finance and insurance (18,023 yuan or US$2,177), electricity, gas and water provision (16,296 yuan or US$1,969), transportation, storage, post and communication (15,818 yuan or US$1,911) and real estate (15,384 yuan or US$1,859).

According to statistic, the per capita yearly pay of 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions were beyond 10,000 yuan (US$1,208); Shanghai, Beijing and Tibet’s even exceeding 20,000 yuan (US$2,416). Looking from the increase percentage, Shanghai and Guizhou Province are below 10 percent; the others all between 10 and 20 percent.

(China.org.cn by Feng Yikun, April 15, 2003)