TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of employed in the business sector has increased by 16 000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, but the number has decreased by 42 000 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.

In the first quarter of 2013, the number of employed in the business sector was 485 700, according to the latest report by Georgia’s Statistics Department.

There is no new data about how many people live in Georgia. A census will be held in 2014. The number of voters was 3 365 000 in 2012.

The number of employees in the business sector was 470 000 in the first quarter of 2012, while it was 527 800 in the fourth quarter of last year.

According to Geostat, the top field of employment is trade and more than 60 percent of those employed are located in Tbilisi.

The average monthly salary in the business sector was GEL 717 for men, and GEL 529 for women.

Investments bythe businesses in the first quarter of 2013 was GEL 101.6 million, while turnover of businesses was GEL 8.6 billion.