Annual increase in labour costs at 3.3% in euro area
Overview
In the fourth quarter of 2025 the hourly labour costs rose by 3.3% in the euro area and by 3.7% in the EU, compared with the same quarter of the previous year. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
The two main components of labour costs are wages & salaries and non-wage costs.
In the euro area, in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year
the costs of hourly wages & salaries increased by 3.0% while
the non-wage costs increased by 4.4%.
In the EU, in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year
the costs of hourly wages & salaries increased by 3.4% while
the non-wage component increased by 4.5%.
Breakdown by economic activity
In the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, hourly labour costs in the euro area rose by 3.5% in the (mainly) non-business economy and by 3.2% in the business economy:
+2.5% in industry,
+4.0% in construction and
+3.4% in services.
In the EU, hourly labour costs grew by 3.7% in both (mainly) non-business economy and in the business economy:
+3.1% in industry,
+4.5% in construction and
+3.9% in services.
In the EU, in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the economic activities (NACE Rev. 2 sections) that recorded the highest increases in hourly wage costs were:
L – ‘Real estate activities’ (+4.6%) followed by
M – ‘ Professional, scientific and technical activities’ (+4.5%),
P – ‘Education’ (+4.4%),
F – ‘Construction’ and H – ‘Transport and storage’ (both +4.1%)
The lowest annual increase was recorded in NACE Rev. 2 section D – ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ (+2.7%) followed by NACE Rev. 2 section C – ‘Manufacturing’ (+2.8%) whereas NACE Rev. 2 section B – ‘Mining and quarrying’ recorded a decrease (-1.2%).
In the EU, in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the economic activities (NACE Rev. 2 sections) that recorded the highest increases in the non-wage component were:
F – ‘Construction’ and L – ‘Real estate activities’ (both +5.8%) followed by
H – ‘Transport and storage’, M – ‘ Professional, scientific and technical activities’ and S – ‘ Other service activities’ (all +5.4%).
The lowest annual increase was recorded in NACE Rev. 2 section D – ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ (+3.0%) while NACE Rev. 2 section B – ‘ Mining and quarrying’ remained unchanged.
Hourly wage costs across countries
In the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the highest increases in hourly wage costs for the whole economy were recorded in Slovenia (+19.1%), Bulgaria (+13.8%) and Croatia (+10.5%). The lowest increases were recorded in France (+1.1%), Italy (+2.3%), Denmark (+2.5%), Finland (+2.6%), Germany and Cyprus (+2.7% each) whereas Malta recorded a decrease (-3.9%).
Tables
Nominal hourly labour costs of whole economy (NACE Rev. 2 sections B to S) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
2.6 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
4.4 |
Euro area 21 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
4.4 |
EU |
4.4 |
4.8 |
3.1 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
4.5 |
Belgium |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
12.8 |
13.0 |
11.7 |
12.3 |
12.4 |
12.1 |
13.9 |
13.8 |
14.3 |
Czechia |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.3 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.5 |
Denmark |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
5.6 |
3.0 |
2.5 |
6.0 |
Germany |
3.5 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
4.5 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
4.9 |
Estonia |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
4.8 |
Ireland |
4.7 |
5.4 |
1.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
4.2 |
Greece |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
8.9 |
8.7 |
8.0 |
11.1 |
Spain |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
France |
2.1 |
1.9 |
2.7 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
3.0 |
Croatia |
14.4 |
14.3 |
14.7 |
9.4 |
9.1 |
11.1 |
11.0 |
10.5 |
13.8 |
Italy |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
3.5 |
Cyprus |
5.2 |
4.8 |
6.5 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
Latvia |
10.7 |
11.4 |
8.1 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
4.0 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
9.5 |
Lithuania |
10.3 |
10.4 |
9.9 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
11.5 |
9.0 |
8.8 |
13.9 |
Luxembourg |
0.3 |
0.4 |
-0.6 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
5.0 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
4.5 |
Hungary |
11.2 |
11.4 |
9.9 |
8.7 |
8.8 |
8.0 |
8.9 |
9.1 |
6.9 |
Malta |
6.3 |
6.4 |
4.4 |
-1.3 |
-1.3 |
-2.2 |
-3.7 |
-3.9 |
-1.6 |
Netherlands |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.5 |
5.1 |
4.4 |
7.2 |
4.8 |
4.2 |
6.6 |
Austria |
5.9 |
5.6 |
6.8 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
Poland |
13.8 |
13.8 |
13.5 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
7.9 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
Portugal |
10.1 |
10.1 |
10.1 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
Romania |
13.5 |
13.6 |
12.0 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
Slovenia |
6.9 |
7.2 |
5.2 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
17.1 |
19.1 |
5.2 |
Slovakia |
5.3 |
4.9 |
6.6 |
6.2 |
5.7 |
7.6 |
6.4 |
6.0 |
7.4 |
Finland |
2.6 |
3.3 |
-0.8 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
4.4 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
4.0 |
Sweden |
3.3 |
3.7 |
2.5 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
Norway |
5.3 |
5.9 |
4.0 |
3.1 |
4.6 |
-5.4 |
1.2 |
4.4 |
-15.3 |
Iceland |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.4 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
8.7 |
7.2 |
7.0 |
8.1 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of business economy (NACE Rev. 2 sections B to N) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
4.0 |
4.2 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
4.1 |
3.2 |
2.8 |
4.4 |
Euro area 21 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
3.4 |
4.2 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
4.5 |
EU |
4.5 |
4.8 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
4.6 |
Belgium |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
12.8 |
12.8 |
12.8 |
12.0 |
12.0 |
12.1 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
14.1 |
Czechia |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
6.4 |
6.6 |
6.1 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
8.0 |
Denmark |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.7 |
2.8 |
2.4 |
4.7 |
2.8 |
2.4 |
5.4 |
Germany |
3.6 |
4.5 |
0.5 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
2.3 |
1.9 |
4.0 |
Estonia |
8.1 |
8.1 |
8.2 |
8.7 |
8.6 |
8.7 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
5.1 |
Ireland |
4.7 |
5.9 |
0.8 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
3.6 |
Greece |
7.9 |
7.6 |
9.3 |
9.2 |
9.4 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
8.5 |
5.9 |
Spain |
3.7 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
4.9 |
France |
2.8 |
2.4 |
3.8 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
3.7 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
4.3 |
Croatia |
12.5 |
12.5 |
12.8 |
11.4 |
11.0 |
13.8 |
11.5 |
10.9 |
15.0 |
Italy |
4.3 |
4.2 |
4.6 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
3.7 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
3.8 |
Cyprus |
5.7 |
5.3 |
7.6 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
Latvia |
12.1 |
12.6 |
10.0 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
2.9 |
8.0 |
7.7 |
9.3 |
Lithuania |
9.0 |
9.0 |
9.2 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
11.4 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
16.2 |
Luxembourg |
0.2 |
0.4 |
-1.0 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.6 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
3.9 |
Hungary |
9.9 |
10.1 |
8.6 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
7.2 |
8.3 |
8.6 |
6.1 |
Malta |
1.3 |
1.1 |
3.9 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
-0.3 |
Netherlands |
5.9 |
5.6 |
6.9 |
5.2 |
4.5 |
7.6 |
4.9 |
4.4 |
6.7 |
Austria |
6.4 |
6.0 |
7.7 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
Poland |
10.5 |
10.5 |
10.4 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
Portugal |
9.9 |
9.9 |
9.9 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
8.3 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
Romania |
12.4 |
12.4 |
12.0 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.7 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
Slovenia |
8.3 |
8.7 |
6.0 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
13.1 |
15.0 |
1.8 |
Slovakia |
5.6 |
5.2 |
6.9 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
7.4 |
6.2 |
5.9 |
7.3 |
Finland |
2.3 |
3.0 |
-1.2 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
4.6 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
3.8 |
Sweden |
4.3 |
3.8 |
5.3 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
Norway |
6.2 |
6.9 |
5.3 |
3.3 |
5.2 |
-7.7 |
1.2 |
5.1 |
-18.2 |
Iceland |
7.1 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
7.8 |
7.7 |
8.4 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.9 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of mainly non-business economy (NACE Rev. 2 sections O to S) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
1.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
Euro area 21 |
3.3 |
3.9 |
1.5 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
4.3 |
EU |
4.0 |
4.8 |
1.9 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
4.3 |
Belgium |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
12.6 |
13.5 |
9.0 |
12.9 |
13.2 |
11.8 |
12.9 |
12.5 |
15.0 |
Czechia |
3.3 |
3.5 |
2.9 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
Denmark |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
3.6 |
3.0 |
7.3 |
3.4 |
2.8 |
7.1 |
Germany |
3.4 |
4.7 |
-0.4 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
6.4 |
5.1 |
4.5 |
6.6 |
Estonia |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
Ireland |
4.8 |
4.5 |
:c |
5.6 |
5.6 |
:c |
4.0 |
3.8 |
:c |
Greece |
0.2 |
0.3 |
-0.2 |
6.6 |
5.6 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
6.3 |
19.5 |
Spain |
3.1 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
-1.0 |
-1.1 |
-1.0 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
France |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
-0.1 |
0.7 |
Croatia |
18.3 |
18.3 |
18.6 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
7.1 |
10.0 |
9.7 |
11.5 |
Italy |
3.5 |
3.9 |
2.8 |
1.9 |
2.1 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
Cyprus |
3.8 |
3.5 |
4.9 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
Latvia |
7.5 |
8.5 |
3.8 |
7.6 |
7.9 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
9.9 |
Lithuania |
13.4 |
13.5 |
11.6 |
11.9 |
11.9 |
11.2 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
8.1 |
Luxembourg |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
6.2 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
6.0 |
Hungary |
14.6 |
14.8 |
13.1 |
10.5 |
10.6 |
9.6 |
10.4 |
10.6 |
9.0 |
Malta |
15.4 |
16.5 |
4.9 |
-4.2 |
-4.2 |
-4.7 |
-11.3 |
-12.1 |
-3.1 |
Netherlands |
6.8 |
7.2 |
5.7 |
4.8 |
4.1 |
6.7 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
6.3 |
Austria |
3.8 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
1.8 |
Poland |
22.7 |
22.6 |
23.1 |
9.3 |
9.2 |
9.4 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.4 |
Portugal |
10.5 |
10.5 |
10.4 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
Romania |
17.1 |
17.3 |
12.2 |
-1.2 |
-1.2 |
-0.7 |
-0.4 |
-0.4 |
-0.1 |
Slovenia |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
2.4 |
28.6 |
30.8 |
15.0 |
Slovakia |
4.7 |
4.2 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
6.2 |
7.7 |
6.8 |
6.4 |
7.8 |
Finland |
3.2 |
3.9 |
-0.2 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
4.3 |
Sweden |
1.6 |
3.5 |
-2.3 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
Norway |
3.7 |
4.1 |
2.0 |
2.9 |
3.6 |
-1.2 |
1.1 |
3.2 |
-9.7 |
Iceland |
8.1 |
8.3 |
7.5 |
8.8 |
8.7 |
9.2 |
6.8 |
6.4 |
8.2 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. c confidential : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q Nominal hourly labour costs by main economic activity branches for the business economy |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of Industry (NACE Rev. 2 sections B to E) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
4.3 |
4.6 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
3.9 |
Euro area 21 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.9 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
4.0 |
EU |
4.9 |
5.2 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
4.1 |
Belgium |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
11.5 |
11.4 |
12.2 |
12.8 |
13.2 |
10.6 |
11.8 |
12.0 |
11.0 |
Czechia |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
Denmark |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
6.1 |
2.8 |
2.2 |
6.0 |
Germany |
3.5 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
3.4 |
Estonia |
9.1 |
9.8 |
7.4 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
9.1 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
7.6 |
Ireland |
6.8 |
5.2 |
15.8 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
-0.6 |
3.6 |
4.2 |
0.8 |
Greece |
9.7 |
8.5 |
14.2 |
9.1 |
9.9 |
6.0 |
7.2 |
8.0 |
4.4 |
Spain |
4.2 |
3.8 |
5.4 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
2.9 |
4.4 |
France |
3.1 |
2.7 |
4.1 |
3.3 |
2.7 |
4.7 |
2.8 |
2.1 |
4.4 |
Croatia |
15.2 |
15.2 |
15.4 |
11.8 |
11.4 |
14.1 |
11.2 |
10.7 |
14.3 |
Italy |
5.2 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
3.1 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
3.0 |
Cyprus |
5.6 |
5.4 |
6.9 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
Latvia |
11.0 |
11.7 |
8.3 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
1.4 |
8.2 |
7.9 |
9.2 |
Lithuania |
9.3 |
9.6 |
:c |
7.7 |
7.4 |
:c |
7.9 |
7.5 |
:c |
Luxembourg |
-0.9 |
-0.9 |
-1.4 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
Hungary |
9.8 |
9.9 |
8.8 |
7.1 |
7.2 |
6.5 |
7.8 |
8.1 |
6.1 |
Malta |
13.3 |
12.9 |
20.5 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
5.7 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
Netherlands |
5.8 |
6.3 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
4.4 |
8.5 |
:c |
:c |
:c |
Austria |
6.6 |
6.2 |
7.9 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
Poland |
10.6 |
10.6 |
10.6 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
Portugal |
9.8 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.5 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
Romania |
12.4 |
12.3 |
12.8 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
8.9 |
9.2 |
9.2 |
9.1 |
Slovenia |
8.2 |
8.4 |
7.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
13.9 |
15.8 |
2.0 |
Slovakia |
5.7 |
5.4 |
6.8 |
5.9 |
5.2 |
8.0 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
7.3 |
Finland |
2.3 |
3.2 |
-1.7 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
3.5 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
2.1 |
Sweden |
4.1 |
3.6 |
5.0 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
Norway |
5.7 |
6.7 |
3.9 |
2.3 |
5.2 |
-12.5 |
-1.4 |
3.2 |
-23.7 |
Iceland |
6.0 |
5.8 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
6.8 |
8.0 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
7.0 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. c confidential : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of Construction (NACE Rev. 2 section F) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
3.7 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
5.9 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
5.8 |
Euro area 21 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
3.8 |
4.5 |
4.0 |
5.9 |
4.2 |
3.6 |
5.9 |
EU |
4.8 |
5.0 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
5.9 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
5.8 |
Belgium |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
17.2 |
17.7 |
14.9 |
16.4 |
16.4 |
16.1 |
20.1 |
20.1 |
20.0 |
Czechia |
8.0 |
7.8 |
8.5 |
9.3 |
9.3 |
9.1 |
11.6 |
11.5 |
11.8 |
Denmark |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
2.0 |
6.3 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
6.6 |
Germany |
4.1 |
4.7 |
2.3 |
4.3 |
4.1 |
4.9 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
5.3 |
Estonia |
8.0 |
8.6 |
6.4 |
12.5 |
12.3 |
13.0 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
Ireland |
:c |
8.9 |
:c |
:c |
-0.7 |
:c |
:c |
1.1 |
:c |
Greece |
16.6 |
7.9 |
45.2 |
12.2 |
8.9 |
23.6 |
4.8 |
9.4 |
-6.2 |
Spain |
1.1 |
-0.2 |
4.4 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
4.6 |
France |
3.0 |
2.6 |
4.1 |
2.6 |
1.8 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
2.6 |
7.9 |
Croatia |
10.4 |
10.3 |
11.1 |
12.8 |
12.5 |
15.2 |
13.7 |
13.4 |
15.7 |
Italy |
5.8 |
6.2 |
4.9 |
6.8 |
5.9 |
8.9 |
4.0 |
3.2 |
5.9 |
Cyprus |
6.8 |
6.4 |
8.9 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.1 |
Latvia |
13.7 |
13.8 |
13.4 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
5.5 |
Lithuania |
11.3 |
11.2 |
14.3 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
9.6 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
2.1 |
Luxembourg |
0.3 |
0.3 |
-0.1 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2.8 |
Hungary |
11.7 |
11.9 |
10.4 |
10.6 |
10.7 |
9.4 |
9.1 |
9.4 |
6.6 |
Malta |
1.0 |
1.1 |
-0.3 |
-2.8 |
-2.8 |
-3.4 |
-1.8 |
-1.8 |
-2.6 |
Netherlands |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.7 |
4.6 |
3.8 |
7.5 |
:c |
:c |
:c |
Austria |
8.2 |
6.2 |
15.3 |
4.3 |
3.6 |
6.9 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
5.2 |
Poland |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.6 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
Portugal |
13.5 |
13.5 |
13.6 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
Romania |
10.5 |
10.4 |
13.1 |
15.4 |
15.4 |
14.9 |
15.6 |
15.7 |
15.2 |
Slovenia |
10.4 |
10.7 |
8.8 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
3.0 |
15.6 |
17.6 |
3.4 |
Slovakia |
10.2 |
9.5 |
12.4 |
6.0 |
5.7 |
6.7 |
7.4 |
7.2 |
7.9 |
Finland |
2.2 |
3.1 |
-1.4 |
0.9 |
0.6 |
2.3 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
5.0 |
Sweden |
5.2 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
2.4 |
Norway |
5.3 |
5.9 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
4.6 |
-2.5 |
1.5 |
4.0 |
-11.8 |
Iceland |
6.2 |
6.3 |
5.6 |
9.6 |
9.4 |
10.1 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
8.9 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. c confidential : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of Services (NACE Rev. 2 sections G to N) % change compared with same quarter of previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
Euro area 20 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
3.2 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
4.5 |
Euro area 21 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
4.1 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
4.6 |
EU |
4.3 |
4.5 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
4.7 |
Belgium |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
: |
Bulgaria |
13.1 |
13.1 |
13.0 |
11.3 |
11.0 |
12.6 |
14.8 |
14.7 |
15.2 |
Czechia |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.1 |
7.3 |
8.5 |
8.3 |
8.8 |
Denmark |
3.1 |
2.9 |
3.8 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
4.1 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
5.0 |
Germany |
3.5 |
4.4 |
0.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2.8 |
2.4 |
4.2 |
Estonia |
7.7 |
7.3 |
8.8 |
8.2 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
5.4 |
5.7 |
4.4 |
Ireland |
5.4 |
5.7 |
4.1 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.7 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
4.5 |
Greece |
6.9 |
7.3 |
5.6 |
9.1 |
9.2 |
8.2 |
8.4 |
8.6 |
7.5 |
Spain |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.1 |
France |
2.7 |
2.3 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
1.8 |
3.3 |
2.2 |
1.4 |
3.9 |
Croatia |
11.6 |
11.6 |
11.8 |
11.0 |
10.7 |
13.4 |
11.2 |
10.7 |
15.1 |
Italy |
3.6 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
2.2 |
4.0 |
Cyprus |
5.6 |
5.2 |
7.6 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
Latvia |
12.3 |
12.8 |
10.2 |
4.0 |
4.2 |
3.5 |
8.1 |
7.6 |
9.9 |
Lithuania |
8.6 |
8.5 |
11.4 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
10.3 |
9.0 |
8.6 |
16.7 |
Luxembourg |
0.4 |
0.5 |
-1.0 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
4.2 |
Hungary |
9.9 |
10.1 |
8.4 |
8.1 |
8.2 |
7.5 |
8.5 |
8.8 |
6.0 |
Malta |
-0.7 |
-0.8 |
1.1 |
-0.2 |
-0.2 |
-0.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
-0.6 |
Netherlands |
5.7 |
5.3 |
7.5 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
7.3 |
:c |
:c |
:c |
Austria |
6.0 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
4.7 |
4.6 |
5.3 |
Poland |
10.4 |
10.4 |
10.2 |
8.3 |
8.2 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
8.4 |
8.6 |
Portugal |
9.5 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.5 |
Romania |
12.7 |
12.8 |
11.3 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
7.6 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
8.2 |
Slovenia |
8.0 |
8.6 |
4.8 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.9 |
12.2 |
14.0 |
1.4 |
Slovakia |
5.2 |
4.7 |
6.5 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
7.0 |
5.7 |
5.2 |
7.2 |
Finland |
2.3 |
3.0 |
-0.9 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
5.6 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
4.5 |
Sweden |
4.2 |
3.6 |
5.4 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
Norway |
6.6 |
7.2 |
6.2 |
3.6 |
5.4 |
-6.9 |
2.2 |
6.0 |
-17.3 |
Iceland |
7.6 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
7.8 |
7.7 |
8.2 |
7.6 |
7.4 |
8.1 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. c confidential : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Nominal hourly labour costs of wage and non-wage component by NACE Rev. 2 sections in the EU % change compared with the same quarter of the previous year - calendar adjusted |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
|||||||
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
WAGES |
OTHER |
|
B: Mining and quarrying |
7.0 |
6.8 |
7.8 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
-1.0 |
-1.2 |
0.0 |
C: Manufacturing |
5.0 |
5.3 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
4.1 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
4.3 |
D: Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
3.5 |
4.1 |
1.6 |
2.5 |
2.7 |
2.0 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
3.0 |
E: Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
3.6 |
3.8 |
3.1 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
F: Construction |
4.8 |
5.0 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
5.9 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
5.8 |
G: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
4.2 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
H: Transport and storage |
4.2 |
4.6 |
3.1 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
I: Accommodation and food service activities |
3.2 |
3.5 |
2.1 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
4.1 |
J: Information and communication |
5.2 |
5.5 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
4.6 |
K: Financial and insurance activities |
3.1 |
3.4 |
2.4 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
L: Real estate activities |
3.6 |
3.9 |
2.8 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
4.9 |
4.6 |
5.8 |
M: Professional, scientific and technical activities |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.0 |
4.8 |
4.7 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
5.4 |
N: Administrative and support service activities |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
4.7 |
O: Public administration and defense; compulsory social security |
3.3 |
3.8 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
4.3 |
P: Education |
3.9 |
4.9 |
1.2 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
Q: Human health and social work activities |
4.6 |
5.4 |
1.9 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
4.1 |
R: Arts, entertainment and recreation |
5.2 |
5.6 |
3.9 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
S: Other service activities |
4.8 |
5.4 |
2.9 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
5.4 |
Labour cost data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. c confidential : Data not available TOTAL = total labour costs WAGES = wage and salary costs OTHER = non-wage costs Source dataset: lc_lci_r2_q |
|||||||||
Notes for users
Revisions and timetable
The Labour Cost Index data are subject to revision, in particular for the latest quarters, when new source data become available. The original data, before any subsequent revision, are also available here.
Compared with the News Release of 17 December 2025, the annual growth rate of the hourly labour costs, for the total economy in the third quarter of 2025 was revised from +3.3% to +3.4% for euro area and from +3.7% to +3.8% for the EU.
Eurostat releases early estimates for the hourly labour costs of the euro area and of the EU, around 50 days after the reference quarter. Early estimates for the fourth quarter of 2025 have been released on 19 February 2026 and early estimates for the first quarter of 2026 are scheduled on 21 May 2026.
Country notes
At the time of finalizing this publication, data from Belgium were not available for the last two reference quarters (Q3 2025 and Q4 2025).
Methods and definitions
The Labour Cost Index is a short-term indicator showing the development of hourly labour costs incurred by employers, in nominal terms, that is without adjusting for price developments. It is calculated dividing the labour cost in national currency by the number of hours worked. Therefore, the development of variables, labour costs and hours worked, affect the evolution of the index (base year = 2020).
The quarterly changes in hourly employers’ costs are measured for total labour costs and its main components: wages and salaries; and non-wage costs (labour costs other than wages and salaries). Total labour costs (TOT) cover wage and non-wage costs less subsidies. They do not include vocational training costs or other expenditures such as recruitment costs, spending on working clothes, etc.
Wage and salary costs (WAG) include direct remuneration, bonuses, and allowances paid by an employer in cash or in kind to an employee in return for work done, payments to employees saving schemes, payments for days not worked and remuneration in kind such as food, drink, fuel, company cars, etc.
Labour costs other than wages and salaries (OTH - non-wage costs) include the employers’ social contributions plus employment taxes regarded as labour costs less subsidies intended to refund part or the entire employer’s cost of direct remuneration.
Eurostat publishes Labour Cost Index data for NACE Rev. 2 sections B to S. The aggregate is referred to as "Whole economy" for the sake of simplification, although sections A: ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’; T: ‘Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services producing activities of households for own use’ and U: ‘Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies’ are excluded. Section N: ‘Administrative and support service activities’ includes the activities of temporary employment agencies.
Geographical information
Up to 31 December 2025, the euro area included Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland (EA20). From 1 January 2026, the euro area also includes Bulgaria (EA21).
The aggregate data series commented on in this Euro indicator release refer to the official composition of the euro area in the most recent quarter for which data are available, hence EA20.
The European Union includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden (EU27).
For more information
Get in touch
Further information on data
Ines KOLAKOVIC
Phone: (+352) 4301 32 179