Labour Cost Statistics. 2025

The total gross labour cost per worker stood at 41,556.02 euros in 2025, an increase of 3.0% compared with 2024, according to the Annual Labour Cost Survey. By sector, the total gross labour cost increased by 6.7% in construction, 3.0% in services and 2.2% in industry. By branch, the largest year-over-year increases in the total gross labour cost were recorded in Retail trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (7.7%), Construction (6.7%) and Financial and insurance activities (5.6%). In contrast, the only branches where the total gross labour cost decreased were Wholesale trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle, Accommodation and food service activities, and Metallurgy (−0.8%, −0.4% and −0.2%, respectively).

The total wage cost grew by 2.7% in 2025 compared with the previous year. By sector, it increased by 7.1% in construction, 2.7% in services and 1.8% in industry.

By component, 73.5% of the total annual gross labour cost per worker corresponded to wage cost (30,533.60 euros), 24.0% to compulsory Social Security contributions (9,987.96 euros), and 2.5% to the remaining labour cost components (1,034.48 euros).

By size of the units, the total gross labour cost per worker increased by 2.2% in units with 1 to 49 workers, 2.0% in units with 50 to 199 workers, and 3.8% in those with 200 workers and over.