So, hotels reported an 8.2% increase in sales as opposed to the same period a year ago. “Meanwhile, compared to the previous quarter, this figure registered an increase of 2.1%”, experts of INSTAT say. Representatives of this institution also reveal that more people have been employed during this summer by accommodation outlets, which besides an increase in their numbers, for the first time, they have also benefited a significant drop in the level of Value Added Tax (VAT) of up to 6%. This seems to have encouraged owners of these outlets to be more “generous” toward these employees. “The index of the number of people employed in hotels increased by 1.7% compared to the second quarter of 2016. Compared to the previous quarter, this index registered an increase of 16.9%”, experts of INSTAT say in relation to this. Meanwhile, they also add that the index of salaries registered an increase of 11.5% compared to the same period a year ago and 16.6% compared to the previous quarter. As far as tour operators are concerned, it is reported that during this summer, they employed around 3.6% more employees compared to the same period a year ago and 4.4% compared to the previous quarter. Tour operators have also increased salaries for their employees by 13.7%.
The holiday season generated more production for the domestic economy
This year’s holiday season seemed to have generated more production for the domestic economy. This is reported through data supplied by the Institute of Statistics. According to these data, during the second quarter of the year, there was a growth of production in the key sectors of the economy. This growth may coincide with the positive signals sent to the economy by the fact that the opposition ended its protest and decided to participate in the general elections of 25 June 2017. “The index of net sales in the industry registered a growth of 6.9% compared to the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, production marked an annual growth of 14.4% and a growth of 6% over an earlier quarter”, experts of statistics say.
This also had a positive impact on the number of people employed by the industry sector and at the same time, it led to an increase in their salaries by 2.4%. “The index of sales registered a 5.2% growth compared to the same period a year ago and 9.6% compared to the previous quarter”, is the report that comes for the electricity sector, which, according to INSTAT experts, has also registered a growth in the number of its employees and salaries, namely by 2.8% and 21.1% compared to the same period a year ago.
Construction also increased salaries and created new jobs
Construction sector too opened new jobs and increased salaries during the 2017 summer holiday season. This showed that construction not only continues in Albania, but also the fact that this sector continues to generate progress, despite the standstill of the recent years. According to figures supplied by the Institute of Statistics, in the second quarter of this year, the index of sales in the construction sector registered a level of 33.9% compared to the second quarter of 2016. Compared to the previous quarter, this index grew by 14.5%.
“The number of employees registered a growth of 3.4% compared to the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, this index grew by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter”, INSTAT experts explain. In conclusion, salaries for all employees who currently work in the construction sector registered a growth of up to 12.2% compared to the same period a year ago and 2% compared to the previous quarter.
