The number of full-time workers rose 0.5 percent in 2005 from the previous year to 32.18 million for the first increase in eight years, the government said Wednesday.

The number of part-time employees rose to 10.91 million, up 0.6 percent, compared with a 5.7 percent rise in 2004, indicating that employers are tending to hire workers on a regular basis instead of part time on the back of the economic recovery.

The overall average monthly wage for 2005 increased for the first time in five years, by 0.6 percent to 334,886 yen, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said in a preliminary report.

The average monthly wage is calculated from annual salary, including overtime and special payments such as bonuses.

The average monthly amount of special payments rose for the first time in eight years, by 2.1 percent to 62,077 yen.

Average monthly working hours slipped 0.6 percent to 150.3, down for the first time in two years. But monthly overtime hours posted a 1 percent gain to 10.4, up for the fourth consecutive year.

The figures cover companies with five or more employees, and employees who worked regularly for more than one month.

By industrial sector, the number of regular payroll employees in the manufacturing industry and in areas associated with education and health-care increased.

The manufacturing sector saw 0.4 percent growth to 8.57 million.

The average working time in the month increased 0.2 percent to 151.8 hours.