ROME (AFX) - Big industry employment was down 2.0 pct year-on-year in February, the statistics bureau ISTAT said. On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment fell 0.2 pct month-on-month. The average gross pay per employee rose 3.5 pct year-on-year in February, while the average labour cost per employee rose 2.3 pct year-on-year, ISTAT said. In the two months to February, industry employment was also down 2.0 pct year-on-year. Employment in services was unchanged year-on-year in February. On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment fell 0.1 pct month-on-month. In services, the average gross pay per employee rose 2.8 pct year-on-year in February, while the average labour cost per employee rose 2.1 pct year-on-year, ISTAT said. In the two months to February, services employment was rose 0.1 pct year-on-year. ISTAT only surveys companies with 500 or more employees.