site.btaBulgaria Among EU Countries with Largest Annual Increase in Hourly Labour Costs in Q4 of 2024

In the fourth quarter of 2024, hourly labour costs rose by 4.3% in the EU and by 3.7% in the euro area, compared with the same quarter of the previous year, Eurostat said on Wednesday.

In the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the highest increases in hourly wage costs for the whole economy were recorded in Croatia (+13.9%), Poland (+13.8%), Romania (+13.1%) and Bulgaria (+13.0%). Three more EU Member States recorded an increase of 10% or more: Hungary (+11.9%), Latvia (+11.4%) and Lithuania (+10.7%).

In the EU, in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the economic activities that recorded the highest increases in hourly wage costs were mining and quarrying (+6.8%) and arts, entertainment and recreation (+5.6%).