ELSTAT: average hourly labour cost was €15.16 in 2024
The 2024 survey measures employers’ total costs in enterprises with at least ten employees. The corresponding hourly amount in 2020 was €13.76.
Average hourly labour cost was €15.16 in 2024, compared with €13.76 in 2020, according to the Labour Cost Survey published by ELSTAT on 13 November 2026. The survey is conducted every four years and covers enterprises with at least ten employees in economic-activity sections B to S of NACE Rev. 2, including full-time and part-time employees.
The measure concerns employers’ total expenditure on employment, after subsidies are deducted. It includes wages and salaries, employer social contributions and other related expenditure. It is not employees’ net hourly take-home pay or their current wage in 2026.
Wages and salaries accounted for 82.8% of total labour cost and employer contributions for 17.1%. Average hours actually worked per employee were 1,579.9 annually in 2024, compared with 1,508.2 in 2020, an increase of 4.8%. The comparison uses a year of pandemic restrictions as its previous reference period, which particularly affected accommodation, food services and entertainment.
Sector differences were substantial. Average hourly labour cost was €29.76 in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply and €29.67 in financial and insurance activities. It was €11.27 in administrative and support services and €12.12 in accommodation and food services. These are averages across different sectors, not minimum or mandatory pay rates.
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