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Labour Cost Statistics and Vacancies. Q2/2026

The labour cost per worker and month stood at 3,719.56 euros in Catalonia in the second quarter of 2026, 5.1% higher than in the same quarter of 2025. The number of job vacancies stood at 31,211, 18.6% higher than a year ago.

Labour cost

The labour cost per worker and month stood at 3,719.56 euros in Catalonia in the second quarter of 2026, 5.1% higher than in the same quarter of 2025. As for specific sectors, the labour cost per worker and month in the ICT sector was 5,775.65 euros, 7.3% higher than a year ago. The culture sector rose by 7.0%, standing at 4,074.35 euros. The tourism sector grew by 2.6% compared to the same quarter of 2025, with a labour cost of 2,648.53 euros per worker and month. Within the tourism sector, the highest labour cost was recorded in the tourism transport subsector (4,144.12 euros). In the culture sector, the audiovisual and advertising subsector recorded the highest labour cost (4,697.35 euros).

The wage cost per worker and month increased by 5.1% in Catalonia, standing at 2,770.19 euros. In the ICT sector, this wage cost was 4,329.92 euros (6.1% year-over-year); in the culture sector, it was 3,119.21 euros (7.9%); and in the tourism sector, 1,938.45 euros (2.3%).

Per hour actually worked, the labour cost was 28.68 euros and the wage cost 21.36 euros. Among the specific sectors analysed, the ICT sector registered the highest wage cost per hour actually worked (29.30 euros), followed by the culture sector (22.97 euros) and the tourism sector (15.79 euros).

Job vacancies

In the second quarter of 2026, the number of job vacancies stood at 31,211, 18.6% higher than a year ago.

Regarding industry and compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the number of vacancies increased in metallurgy, machinery, electrical and transport equipment (40.8%; from 851 to 1,198). Conversely, it fell in food, textile, wood, paper and printing (−34.0%; from 1,272 to 839) and in chemical and rubber (−16.6%; from 517 to 431). Regarding services, the year-over-year increase in the number of job vacancies was notable in public administration, defence and compulsory Social Security (82.7%; from 4,712 to 8,608), in education, health and social services (79.5%; from 3,113 to 5,589), and in trade (76.5%; from 2,627 to 4,637). On the other hand, the most significant relative decreases were found in information and communication (−73.4%; from 2,038 to 542) and in cultural and sports activities and other services (−65.6%; from 1,391 to 478).