Annual increase in labour costs at 3.1% in euro area
Overview In the second quarter of 2026 the hourly labour costs rose by 3.1% in the euro area and by 3.2% 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 ...
In the second quarter of 2026, hourly labour costs in the euro area increased by 3.1%, while in the EU they rose by 3.2% compared to the same period in the previous year. Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, reported these figures. Hourly wages and salaries accounted for 3.0% of the increase in the euro area, while non-wage costs rose by 3.2%. In the EU, both hourly wages and non-wage costs increased by 3.2%.
The main sectors with the highest hourly labour cost increases in the euro area included construction (+3.9%), industry (+3.0%), and services (+3.0%). In the EU, these sectors were industry (+3.1%), construction (+3.0%), and services (+3.1%). Among economic activities (NACE Rev. 2 sections), real estate activities (+5.7%) and other service activities (+5.1%) in the EU experienced the largest hourly wage cost increases, while mining and quarrying (+1.5%) and arts, entertainment, and recreation (+1.7%) saw the smallest increases.
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