China’s National Bureau of Statistics has released data on the average annual income in 2015. There seems to be a clear sector difference. And contrary to expectations, the slowing economy didn’t seem to drag down salary growth for certain industries. CCTV’s Zhong Shi joins me now with more details.

Q1. I understand that there is a visible income difference between people who work in the public and private sectors. Tell us more.

A1. That’s right. Let me first point out the figures on urban workers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average yearly income stood at 53-thousand yuan, or 8,200 US dollars, up over 7.3% year-on-year.

 Employees in the public sector that means state enterprises and government entities and institutions…made a lot more than those in the private sector. The average yearly income for those in the public sector was 62,000 yuan -- compare this to the less than 40,000 yuan for a private sector worker.

Topping the better paying jobs list in the public sector is finance, with an average professional earning over 110-thousand yuan. Those in the mining industry saw a tough year, with their yearly income dropping 3.7% -- the first time in years.

Q2. The slowing economy didn’t seem to put the brakes on salary growth levels. Why is that?

A2. Well, a couple of reasons really. For starters, the salary policy was adjusted for government institutions in 2015, resulting in visibly higher growth than past years.

Also, 27 provincial regions upped their minimum wage standard with an average increase of close to 15 percent. That being said, we are seeing some industries struggling. We’ve talked about the mining industry which has seen a drop in yearly income.

And there’s the farming, forestry and fishery industry which saw the lowest yearly income of just over 31-thousand yuan. That’s less than one third of the income level in finance.

Experts say that jobs in public sector institutions are better paying because they’re larger in size and are generally profitable. Jobs in the private sector are mostly low-level labor intensive positions. That, combined with industries like mining facing overproduction issues, almost certainly warrants poorly paid jobs.