EU: Austria Among the Leaders in Labor Costs

Labor is expensive in Austria. This is once again demonstrated by a calculation from the German statistics office. At 44.05 euros per hour, the cost per working hour in the manufacturing and service sectors in Austria is higher than in France and Germany. Only in Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands do companies have to spend more. In Hungary, Latvia, and Romania, the hour costs a third, in Bulgaria a quarter of the Austrian value.

Austrian Labor Costs Above EU Average

Labor costs consist of gross earnings and non-wage labor costs. The comparison includes all sectors except agriculture, forestry, and public administration. The EU average is significantly below the Austrian costs at 33.50 euros.

The hourly costs in the manufacturing sector alone were 49.40 euros in Austria in 2024, after an increase of 8.6 percent. Here, only Denmark and Belgium are more expensive (the value for the Netherlands is missing). In the service sector, the working hour costs an average of 41.80 euros in Austria. In this area, Austria ranks eighth. Besides Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands, costs are also higher in France, Germany, and Sweden.

Romania at the Bottom

At the lower end of the scale of total labor costs are Bulgaria (10.60 euros) and Romania (12.50 euros), as well as the countries Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Greece, and Poland with about 14 to 17 euros.

(APA/Red)

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