site.btaHourly Labour Costs Up 12.4% in Bulgaria Q1 of 2025

In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, compared to Q1 of 2024, the total hourly labour cost in Bulgaria rose by 12.4%, according to preliminary data released by the National Statistical Institute on Friday. 

The total hourly labour cost increased by 14.1% in industry and by 11.8% in services, the data show.

The largest annual increases in total labour costs were observed in construction (19.7%), real estate activities (19.2%), and arts, entertainment and recreation (17.9%). In the same period of the previous year, the highest growth rates were in other service activities (20.8%), accommodation and food service activities (20.6%), and construction (19.3%).

In the composition of total labour costs, wages and salaries per hour worked increased by 13.0% compared to the previous year, while other non-wage costs rose by 9.5%. In the first quarter of 2025, the growth rate of the wages and salaries component across economic sectors ranged from 20.3% in construction to 0.3% in mining and quarrying, relative to the first quarter of 2024.

In Q1 2024, the wage component increased by 15.8%, while the non-wage component grew by 15.9%. Wage growth across sectors varied, from 22.1% in Other Service Activities to 10.9% in Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply.