Statistics: 10.34% increase in Q2 hourly labour cost

The hourly labour cost in adjusted form (based on the number of working days) recorded a 10.34% increase in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2024, and was 1.53% higher than in the previous quarter, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) reported on Wednesday.

According to the INS, in Q2 2025 compared to Q1 2025, the hourly labour cost (adjusted for the number of working days) increased across most economic sectors.

The most significant increases in hourly labour costs (adjusted) were witnessed in electricity, heat, gas, hot water and air conditioning production and supply (+12.60%), mining and quarrying (+7.50%), financial intermediation and insurance (+4.83%), transport and storage (+4.01%).

The only sectors that recorded decreases in hourly labour costs (adjusted) were hotels and restaurants (-1.90%), arts, entertainment and recreation (-1.37%), administrative and support service activities (-0.99%), information and communications (-0.20%).

Compared to the previous quarter direct (wage-related) labour costs rose 1.53%, indirect (non-wage) labour costs increased 1.44%.

When compared to the same quarter of the previous year (Q2 2024), the hourly labour cost (adjusted) increased across all economic sectors.

The most notable year-on-year increases were in construction (+15.04%), other service activities (+14.37%), manufacturing industry (+13.44%).

The lowest increases in hourly labour cost (adjusted) compared to Q2 2024 were in public administration (+5.84%), education (+6.02%), health and social work (+6.12%).

Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, in Q2 2025, the direct labour cost component (wages) increased 10.33%, while the indirect labour cost component (non-wage) went up 10.54%.