Germany among EU’s priciest labour markets – official data

Germany ranked seventh in the European Union for labour costs in 2024, with enterprises in manufacturing and services paying an average of €43.40 per hour worked, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

This figure was about 30 per cent higher than the EU average of €33.50, maintaining a steady gap since 2022. Within manufacturing alone, German employers paid €48.30 per hour—roughly 43 per cent above the EU average of €33.70—placing Germany fourth in this sector EU-wide.

In market services, hourly costs averaged €42.10, 26 per cent above the EU benchmark of €33.30.

The highest labour costs in the bloc were in Luxembourg (€55.20), Denmark (€50.10) and Belgium (€48.20), while the lowest were recorded in Hungary (€14.10), Romania (€12.50) and Bulgaria (€10.60).

Germany saw a 5.0 per cent annual increase in labour costs, matching the EU average. In contrast, Poland posted the sharpest rise at 19.0 per cent.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama