Hourly labour costs increased by 5.3% in the EU between 2022 and 2023

In 2023 compared with 2022, hourly labour costs at whole economy level expressed in € rose by 5.3% in the EU and by 4.8% in the euro area.

Within the euro area, hourly labour costs increased in all countries. The largest increases were recorded in Croatia (+14.2%), Lithuania (+12.4%) and Estonia (+11.7%).

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%).