In the second quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2024, the total hourly labour cost rose by 13.2% (according to preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 14.0% in industry, by 11.9% in services and by 16.2% in construction.
The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in the following sectors: ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 18.1%, ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ - by 17.7%, and ‘Mining and quarrying’ - by 17.2%.
In the structure of the total labour costs, the wages and salaries costs per hour worked grew by 13.4% in comparison with a year earlier, while the other (non-wage) costs rose by 12.3%. Among the economic activities in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2024, the growth rate of wages and salaries component ranged from 18.8% in the ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ sector to 7.0% in the ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ sector.
Source: National Statistical Institute