Analytics, Labour-market, Markets and Companies, Statistics, Wages

Rise in hourly labour costs recorded in almost all economic activities

Compared to the 2nd quarter of 2019, seasonally non-adjusted data on the 2nd quarter of 2020 show that hourly labour costs increased in almost all economic activities, except of accommodation and food service activities and real estate activities, where during a year they fell by 4.0% and 3.1%, respectively. The sharpest growth was recorded in arts, entertainment and recreation (of 16.5%), other service activities (15.8%), construction activities (8.1%), professional, scientific and technical activities (7.9%) as well as public administration (7.5%).

Hourly labour costs are influenced not only by changes in structure of wages, salaries and other labour costs, but also by the fluctuations in the number of hours worked and employees over the year.

Affected by the emergency situation declared due to COVID-19 changes in hourly labour costs mostly left impact on the drop of hours worked because of the downtime, dismissed employees and change in workloads, as well as due to rise of bonuses and premiums during the crisis.

The smallest increase in hourly labour costs was recorded in transportation and storage (of 0.1%) and financial and insurance activities (0.7%).

Highest labour costs still recorded in financial and insurance activities, while lowest in accommodation and food service activities

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, the highest hourly labour costs were registered in financial and insurance activities (EUR 19.10), information and communication (EUR 16.07), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (EUR 14.00), public administration and defence, compulsory social security (EUR 12.64), as well as professional, scientific and technical activities (EUR 11.42).

The lowest hourly labour costs were recorded in accommodation and food service activities (EUR 6.61), real estate activities (EUR 8.09), other service activities (EUR 8.23), education (EUR 8.69), wholesale, retail sale; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (EUR 8.82), as well as administrative and support service activities (EUR 8.91).

Changes in hourly labour costs by main kind of economic activity
(seasonally non-adjusted data; EUR)