Compared to Quarter III 2025, the hourly labor costs adjusted to the number of working days rose by 1.55%.
Quarter IV 2025 compared to Quarter III 2025
Compared to Quarter III 2025, hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) increased in the majority of economic activities.
The most significant increases in the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) were reported in real estate activities (9.10%), financial and insurance activities (8.93%), respectively in construction (8.41%).
The most significant decrease in the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) was registered in education (-27.17%), determined by the time actually worked increase (a phenomenon characteristic of this activity in the fourth quarter of each year due to the start of the new school year).
Also, slight decreases in the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) were seen in public administration (-2.19%), arts, entertainment and recreation (-0.73%), respectively in human health and social work activities (-0.30%).
Compared to the previous quarter, the direct costs component (wages and salaries) increased by 1.53% and the other costs component (non-wage costs) by 1.99%.
Quarter IV 2025 compared to Quarter IV 2024
Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) increased in the majority of economic activities.
The most significant increases in the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) were reported in construction (15.63%), professional, scientific and technical activities (11.79%), financial and insurance activities (10.33%), respectively in manufacturing (9.90%).
Compared to Quarter IV 2024, the hourly labor cost (working days adjusted) decreased only in public administration (-3.19%) and education (-3.13%).
Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the direct costs component (wages and salaries) increased in Quarter IV 2025 by 6.70% and the other costs component (non-wages costs) by 6.91%.
The quarterly labor cost index is a short-term indicator that reflects the evaluation of the tendencies of the hourly costs incurred by employers with labor force.