Press Release: Quarterly Labour Cost Survey (QLCS). First Quarter 2025.

Main results

The labour cost of companies increased by 3.8% in the first quarter compared with the same period of the previous year and stood at 3,124.55 euros per worker per month. The wage cost increased by 3.8%.
With calendar-adjusted and de-seasonalised results, the labour cost per worker increased by 3.8% annually and 1.0% quarterly.
The number of vacancies was 152,885 this quarter.

More information

Annex of tables (includes information from the Autonomous Communities)
Detailed results

The labour cost increased by 3.8% in the first quarter compared with the same period of 2024, to 3.124,55 euros per worker per month. Salary costs rose by 3.8% reaching 2,290.46 euros. Other costs meanwhile increased by 3.8%. Mandatory Social Security contributions, the main component of other costs, increased by 3.9%.

Total labour cost

Annual variation rate. Percentage

Labour cost per worker per month. First quarter 2025

¹Compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Labour cost per hour. First quarter 2025

¹Compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Series adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects

The labour cost per worker, excluding seasonal and calendar effects, increased by 3.8% this quarter compared to the same period of the previous year, and 1.0% compared to the previous quarter.

Labour cost per worker

Series adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects. Percentage

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Labour cost by activity sector

By activity segment, labour costs registered their largest increases in Supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning and in Supply of water, sanitation, waste management, and decontamination activities. On the other hand, it fell in Public administration and defence, and Mandatory social security.

Labour cost per worker per month. First quarter 2025

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Labour cost by Autonomous Community

Illes Balears, Extremadura and Comunitat Valenciana saw the highest increases in labour costs this quarter.

Cantabria, Principado de Asturias and Aragón meanwhile recorded the lowest increases.

Vacancies

The number of vacancies stood at 152,885 in the first quarter, 2,923 more than in the same quarter of the previous year.

Number of vacancies

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87.6% of vacancies were in the Services sector this quarter.

Vacancies by sector. First quarter 2025

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The Autonomous Communities with the largest number of vacancies were Cataluña, Comunidad de Madrid and Andalucía. Meanwhile, those with the fewest vacancies were La Rioja, Cantabria and Principado de Asturias.

Revision and updating of data

The data published today are final. All results are available on INEbase.

Methodological note

The Quarterly Labour Cost Survey (ETCL) primarily aims to understand the evolution of the average labour cost per worker per month, the average labour cost per effective working hour, and time worked and not worked.

Furthermore, it is the primary source of information for the development of the Harmonised Labour Cost Index, which is part of the euro-indicators of the Statistical Office of the European Union (EUROSTAT).

Type of operation:: quarterly continuous survey.
Base year:: 2020.
Population scope:: Social Security contribution accounts. General Scheme: Sections B to S of CNAE-09 and Special Scheme for Seafarers: Sea Transport (Division 50 of CNAE-09).
Geographical scope:: the entire national territory.
Reference period of the results:: the calendar quarter.
Reference period of the information:: the calendar month.
Sample size:: 28,500 establishments, divided into three monthly sub-samples of 9,500 establishments each.
Sampling type:: stratified random with optimal allocation. Comprehensive survey for workplaces with more than 500 employees.
Collection method:: questionnaire filled in directly by the establishment.

More information on the methodology and the standardised methodological report.

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information on Quality at INE and Code of Best Practices.