{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"eu-labour-cost-index","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/eu-labour-cost-index","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/eu-labour-cost-index/","title":"EU Labour Cost Index by Country (2025)","description":"EU Labour Cost Index in 2025: 122.4 Index (2016=100) EU-27 average. Bulgaria highest at 183.4, Italy lowest at 110. Eurostat (LC_LCI_R2_A), 2008–2025.","domain":"labor","category":"Labour & Employment","keywords":["Labour & Employment","Eurostat","European Union","2025"],"publisher":"Eurostat","frequency":"Annual","geography":"EU-27 member states","temporal_coverage":"2008/2025","unit":"Index (2016=100)","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"25 July 2026","data_as_of":"2025","variable_measured":"EU Labour Cost Index","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"Eurostat","url":"https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/LCI_R2_A/default/table"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"2008–2025"},{"label":"Observations","value":"26"},{"label":"Geography","value":"EU-27 member states"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"25 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"EU-27 (2025)","value":"122.4","unit":"Index (2016=100)","trend":{"direction":"up","value":"+4.1% YoY"}},{"label":"Highest","value":"183.4","unit":"Bulgaria"},{"label":"Lowest","value":"110","unit":"Italy"},{"label":"Countries","value":"26","unit":"EU member states"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"EU Labour Cost Index"}],"observation_count":17,"observations":[{"period":"2009","value":79.5},{"period":"2010","value":80.8},{"period":"2011","value":82.7},{"period":"2012","value":84.6},{"period":"2013","value":85.6},{"period":"2014","value":86.9},{"period":"2015","value":88.2},{"period":"2016","value":89.7},{"period":"2017","value":91.9},{"period":"2018","value":94.5},{"period":"2019","value":97.2},{"period":"2020","value":100},{"period":"2021","value":101.4},{"period":"2022","value":106.4},{"period":"2023","value":112},{"period":"2024","value":117.6},{"period":"2025","value":122.4}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"country","label":"Country"},{"key":"value","label":"Index (2016=100)"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"country":"Bulgaria","value":"183.4","yoyChange":"+21.2"},{"country":"Hungary","value":"174.7","yoyChange":"+14.8"},{"country":"Lithuania","value":"171.8","yoyChange":"+14.1"},{"country":"Romania","value":"170.0","yoyChange":"+15.7"},{"country":"Poland","value":"167.1","yoyChange":"+13.5"},{"country":"Croatia","value":"164.5","yoyChange":"+16.9"},{"country":"Latvia","value":"153.4","yoyChange":"+11.1"},{"country":"Estonia","value":"149.8","yoyChange":"+10.7"},{"country":"Slovakia","value":"144.2","yoyChange":"+9.4"},{"country":"Slovenia","value":"143.1","yoyChange":"+12.6"},{"country":"Ireland","value":"131.3","yoyChange":"+5.0"},{"country":"Austria","value":"127.8","yoyChange":"+4.3"},{"country":"Portugal","value":"127.7","yoyChange":"+7.9"},{"country":"Netherlands","value":"127.5","yoyChange":"+7.0"},{"country":"Greece","value":"125.5","yoyChange":"+9.6"},{"country":"Cyprus","value":"124.9","yoyChange":"+4.2"},{"country":"Czechia","value":"124.9","yoyChange":"+7.8"},{"country":"Malta","value":"122.0","yoyChange":"-0.6"},{"country":"Germany","value":"121.6","yoyChange":"+4.3"},{"country":"Luxembourg","value":"120.6","yoyChange":"+4.1"},{"country":"Sweden","value":"119.9","yoyChange":"+4.6"},{"country":"Finland","value":"116.9","yoyChange":"+4.8"},{"country":"Spain","value":"116.5","yoyChange":"+3.6"},{"country":"Denmark","value":"115.3","yoyChange":"+3.4"},{"country":"France","value":"115.1","yoyChange":"+2.5"},{"country":"Italy","value":"110.0","yoyChange":"+3.5"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does the EU Labour Cost Index measure?","answer":"This page tracks the EU Labour Cost Index (total labour costs per hour worked, 2016=100) across EU member states. Chart EU-27 aggregate LCI trend; table compares index levels and growth rates by member state. It is published by Eurostat, covers EU-27 member states, and is updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2025. Eurostat typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. Updated annually."},{"question":"Why do values differ across EU member states?","answer":"Structural differences in labour market institutions, collective bargaining coverage, employment protection legislation, sectoral composition, and social security system design drive divergence across member states. Bulgaria (183.4) and Italy (110) represent the extremes of a 73.4-point spread within the bloc."}]}