The increase in Romania comes after a 16.1% plus in the first quarter of 2025 and of 13.1% in the last quarter of last year.
By sections, the hourly labor cost in industry went up by 12.8% in Q2, a level similar with that of Iceland and only behind Bulgaria, with 14.2%. In constructions, the increase reached 15%, the highest level in Europe, and in services it amounted to 10.6%.
Increases of above 10% in hourly wage costs were also reported in the second quarter by Estonia (10.3%) and Greece (10.1%).
At the opposite end, the smallest increases were posted in France (1.4%), Denmark (1.5%) and Malta (1.9%).
In the EU, hourly wages and salaries increased by 4.1% and the non-wage component by 3.8% in Q2 2025.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)