ZAGREB, March 22, 2020 - Hourly labour cost in Croatia increased in Q4 of 2019 much less than in the quarter before, reflecting a significantly weaker growth in wage costs, a report by the European statistical office has shown.
In the 27-member European Union, calendar adjusted hourly labour costs grew by 2.7% on the year in Q4 2019. In Q3 they rose by 2.9%.
Costs for wages increased by 2.7%, and costs for social contributions by 2.6%.
In the EU, labour costs per hour grew the most in Q4 in the industry and construction sectors, by 2.7%. In the services sector they went up by 2.6%.
In the euro area, hourly labour costs grew by 2.4% on the year in Q4 2019, following a 2.6% increase in Q3.
Costs for wages went up by 2.3%, and costs for social contributions by 2.4%.
There was a significant increase in hourly labour costs in the services and construction sectors, 2.3%. In the industry sector, the increase was 2.2%.
Among EU member states whose data were available to Eurostat, Romania had the biggest growth in hourly labour costs in Q4 2019, 12%. Bulgaria follows with an increase of 11.9%.
Luxembourg had the weakest growth in hourly labour costs, 0.4%.
In Croatia calendar adjusted hourly labour costs in Q4 2019 grew by 3.2% on the year. In Q3 they rose by 5%.
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