Employment in the firms classified under the main industrial grouping, which are rated by the size of their turnover, increased by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter over the same period last year, according to figures released by the National Office of Statistics.

The grouping's wages and salaries rose by 12.9 per cent and turnover by 1.8 per cent.

The turnover in the consumer durable goods grouping increased by 16 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same quarter last year. This group's employment index, however, dropped by 3.5 per cent. Wages and salaries rose by 20.8 per cent.

The energy grouping, which also includes water production and distribution, recorded relatively stable indicators when compared to the other industrial groupings.

This sector's turnover index went up 2.8 per cent in the first quarter last year. However, the group's employment and salaries indices declined by 1.7 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.

The turnover index of the capital goods group dropped by 10.5 per cent and employment by 10.8 per cent. Its wages and salaries index increased by 7.2 per cent.

The turnover index of the consumer non-durable goods group went down 2.4 per cent and employment index by 4.4 per cent.

However, this group's wages and salaries index rose by 2.1 per cent, the NSO said.

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