The hourly cost of labour in adjusted form (according to the number of working days) recorded an increase of 6.06% in the third quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2024, while compared with the previous quarter it was 0.82% lower, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) reported on Thursday.
The INS mentions that in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the second quarter of 2025, the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) decreased in most economic activities.
The most significant decreases in the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) were recorded in financial intermediation and insurance (-12.92%), real estate transactions (-7.57%), administrative and support service activities (-4.46%), information and communications (-4.26%), transport and storage (-4.17%) and public administration (-4.11%).
According to the statistics, the only increase in the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) occurred in education (29.25%) as a result of the school holidays and the consequent reduction in actual working time.
Compared with the previous quarter, the direct (salary-related) component of labour costs decreased by 0.80% and the indirect (non-salary) component by 1.18%.
As against the same quarter of the previous year, the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) increased in most economic activities.
According to INS data, the most significant increases in the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) were recorded in construction (15.35%), professional, scientific and technical activities (11.21%), manufacturing (9.53%) and other service activities (9.31%).
Compared with the third quarter of 2024, the hourly cost of labour (in adjusted form according to the number of working days) decreased only in education (-4.39%) and public administration (-1.23%).
In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, the direct (salary-related) component of labour costs increased in the third quarter of 2025 by 6.06% and the indirect (non-salary) component by 6.18%. AGERPRES
