SEOUL, March 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's real wage, adjusted for inflation, fell in double digits amid the still high inflation, labor ministry data showed Thursday.
The per-capita nominal monthly average wage in businesses with one or more regular employees shrank 8.6 percent over the year to 4,289,000 won (3,190 U.S. dollars) in January, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
The real monthly wage declined 11.1 percent to 3,791,000 won (2,820 dollars) in the cited month.
The Lunar New Year's holiday moved from January 2023 to February this year, delaying the bonus payment and reducing the nominal wage in January.
The consumer price index (CPI) gained 2.8 percent in January compared to the same month of 2023.
The monthly average working hours per worker in the businesses advanced 7.3 percent from a year earlier to 165.0 hours in January.
The manufacturing industry recorded the longest monthly working hours of 181.3, trailed by the water, sewage and waste disposal sector with 179.1 hours.
The construction industry logged the shortest working hours of 135.6 in January. ■