In the present article, with use of mathematical methods, the wages dynamics in OECD countries and in Russia in 2000–2009 is demonstrated; its connection with GDP changes is examined in the context of other labor market quantitative indices; the influence of labor market institutes on the rates of increase in wages during crisis is considered. The explanation of reasons for cross-country diversity in real wages dynamics is given. It is concluded, that in the recession period the wages in most countries preserved the katabasis rigidity.