site.btaEurostat: Bulgaria Had Lowest Labour Costs in EU27 in 2023

In 2023, the average hourly labour costs in the whole economy (see methodological note) were estimated to be EUR 31.8 in the EU and EUR 35.6 in the euro area, up compared with EUR 30.2 and EUR 34.0, respectively, in 2022, according to data on labour costs levels published by Eurostat on Wednesday.  

The two main components of labour costs are wages and salaries and non-wage costs (e.g. employers' social contributions).   

The average hourly labour costs mask significant gaps between EU countries, with the lowest hourly labour costs recorded in Bulgaria (EUR 9.3), Romania (EUR 11.0) and Hungary (EUR 12.8) while the highest in Luxembourg (EUR 53.9), Denmark (EUR 48.1) and Belgium (EUR 47.1).   

Hourly labour costs in industry were EUR 32.2 in the EU and EUR 38 in the euro area. In construction, they were EUR 28.5 and EUR 31.9, respectively. In services, hourly labour costs varied between €31.8 in the EU and EUR 34.8 in the euro area. In the mainly non-business economy (excluding public administration), they were EUR 32.4 and EUR 35.7, respectively.  

In 2023 compared with 2022, hourly labour costs at whole economy level expressed in euro rose For EU countries outside the euro area, the hourly labour costs expressed in national currency increased in 2023 in all countries, with the largest increases recorded in Hungary (+17.0%), Romania (+16.5%), Bulgaria (+14.0%) and Poland (+12.4%). They increased the least in Denmark (+2.7%). by 5.3% in the EU and by 4.8% in the euro area.