Informations Rapides ·
16 September 2025 · n° 228
In Q2 2025, both hourly wages and hourly costs increased by 2.0% over a year Labour cost index (LCI) - Detailed results - second quarter 2025
In Q2 2025, hourly wages increased by 0.2% over the quarter and by 2.0% over a year
In the second quarter of 2025, hourly wages in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) rose slightly again: +0.2% over the quarter, after +0.1% in the first quarter of 2025 (seasonally and trading day adjusted data). The payments of the Value Sharing Premium (“PPV”) increased moderately (€550 million were paid to the employees, after €470 million in Q1 2025) but made almost no contribution to the overall change.
Over a year, the wage growth softened: +2.0% in the second quarter, after +2.6% in the previous quarter. This slowdown followed a trend that has been observed since mid-2023, linked to the inclusion of falling inflation in wage negotiations: the consumer price index continued to slow down in the second quarter at +0.8% over a year, after +1.1% in the previous quarter.
In Q2 2025, hourly wages decelerated over a year in industry (+2.2% over a year, after +2.8%) and even more in services (+1.8%, after +2.6%), while they barely accelerated in construction (+2.3%, after +2.2%).
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly wages
| Total | Industry | Construction | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| 2025-Q1 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| 2024-Q4 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
| 2024-Q3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| 2023-Q2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| 2023-Q1 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| 2022-Q4 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 |
| 2022-Q3 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 3.8 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
| 2022-Q1 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 1.2 |
| 2021-Q4 | -0.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | -0.6 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| 2021-Q2 | -4.0 | -3.2 | -2.6 | -4.2 |
| 2021-Q1 | 1.4 | 0.2 | -1.1 | 2.4 |
| 2020-Q4 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 4.1 |
| 2020-Q3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| 2020-Q2 | 8.1 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 9.3 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| 2019-Q4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 2019-Q2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| 2019-Q1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 2.1 |
| 2018-Q4 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
| 2018-Q3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q1 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| 2017-Q4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.4 |
| 2017-Q3 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.9 |
| 2017-Q2 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.9 |
| 2017-Q1 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| 2016-Q4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| 2016-Q3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 |
| 2016-Q2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 |
| 2016-Q1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
| 2015-Q4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 |
| 2015-Q3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| 2015-Q2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| 2015-Q1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 2014-Q4 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| 2014-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| 2014-Q2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| 2014-Q1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| 2013-Q4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| 2013-Q3 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| 2013-Q2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
| 2013-Q1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| 2012-Q4 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| 2012-Q3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| 2012-Q1 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
graphiqueYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly wages
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE – Labour cost index (LCI), detailed results.
tableauChanges in LCI - hourly wages
| Quarterly variations | Yearly variations | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1-25 | Q2-25 | Q1-25 | Q2-25 | |
| Industry | 0.5 | -0.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Mining and quarrying | -0.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Manufacturing | 0.6 | -0.1 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | -0.9 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 0.7 | -0.3 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Construction | -2.0 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Services | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | -0.2 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| Transportation and storage | -0.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | -0.4 | -0.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Information and communication | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2.8 | -0.9 | 4.8 | 3.3 |
| Real estate activities | 0.7 | 0.1 | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | -1.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | -0.2 | -0.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| TOTAL | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE - Labour Cost Index (LCI), detailed results.
In Q2 2025, hourly labour costs increased by 0.2% over the quarter and by 2.0% over a year
In the second quarter of 2025, hourly labour costs (wages, contributions, and taxes, net of subsidies) in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) increased slightly over the quarter, in line with wages: +0.2%, after +0.3% in the previous quarter.
Hourly labour costs slowed over a year and increased at the same rate as salaries: +2.0% in the second quarter of 2025, after +2.8% in the previous quarter.
As with wages, hourly labour costs slowed significantly over a year in industry, (+2.2%, after +3.0%) and in services (+1.9%, after +2.7%), while it accelerated slightly in construction (+2.6%, after +2.4%).
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly costs
| Total | Industry | Services | Construction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
| 2025-Q1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| 2024-Q4 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| 2024-Q3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.4 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| 2022-Q4 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| 2022-Q3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 3.0 |
| 2022-Q1 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 3.1 |
| 2021-Q4 | -0.5 | 0.3 | -0.8 | 0.7 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 2021-Q2 | -4.5 | -3.6 | -4.5 | -4.0 |
| 2021-Q1 | 0.9 | -0.3 | 2.0 | -2.4 |
| 2020-Q4 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.5 |
| 2020-Q3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.4 | -0.8 |
| 2020-Q2 | 7.3 | 4.8 | 8.3 | 4.2 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 |
| 2019-Q4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| 2019-Q2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 2019-Q1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| 2018-Q4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 0.5 |
| 2018-Q3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| 2018-Q2 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| 2018-Q1 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| 2017-Q4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 4.2 |
| 2017-Q3 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| 2017-Q2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 2.9 |
| 2017-Q1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | -0.3 | 2.2 |
| 2016-Q4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| 2016-Q3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 |
| 2016-Q2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| 2016-Q1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| 2015-Q4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| 2015-Q3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 2015-Q2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| 2015-Q1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 2014-Q4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 2014-Q3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 2014-Q2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| 2014-Q1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| 2013-Q4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 2013-Q3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 2013-Q2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 2013-Q1 | 0.2 | -0.2 | 0.4 | -0.6 |
| 2012-Q4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| 2012-Q3 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| 2012-Q2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| 2012-Q1 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 |
graphiqueYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly costs
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE – Labour cost index (LCI), detailed results.
tableauChanges in LCI - hourly costs
| Quarterly variations | Yearly variations | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1-25 | Q2-25 | Q1-25 | Q2-25 | |
| Industry | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Mining and quarrying | -0.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Manufacturing | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | -0.8 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1.0 | -0.4 | 3.1 | 2.0 |
| Construction | -1.4 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Services | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Transportation and storage | -0.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| Information and communication | 1.3 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3.0 | -0.9 | 4.9 | 3.3 |
| Real estate activities | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.2 | 3.1 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | -0.7 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| Administrative and support service activities | -0.1 | -0.1 | 2.4 | 0.9 |
| TOTAL | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE - Labour Cost Index (LCI), detailed results.
LCI revisions
Compared to the flash estimate published on 8 August 2025, the year-on-year change in LCI - hourly wages in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) in Q2 2025 remained unchanged at +2.0%; the one in LCI - hourly costs was revised downwards by 0.1 points (after rounding). Minor revisions by sector were mainly due to integration of new information on the paid hours, in particular the inclusion of employers’ late declarations, as well as on social security contributions.
Compared to the previous publication of detailed results on 13 June 2025, the year-on-year change in both LCI - hourly wages and LCI - hourly costs in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) for Q1 2025 was revised upwards by 0.1 points.
For further information
Since December 2023, the results of the revised hourly labour cost index – All employees (ICHTrev-TS) are provided alongside this publication. The methodological notes for this index are available in the “Documentation” tab, and the results can be consulted via the downloadable supplementary data file or the time series attached to this publication.
The ICHTrev-TS is primarily intended for users who need indicators of labour costs to upgrade their contracts. Therefore, this index (base 100 in December 2008) is not usually subject to any revision after publication. It is computed, every quarter, on the basis of data from the detailed results of the LCI then smoothed and made monthly to ensure less volatility. The choice of an index for the purpose of indexing a contract, or the appropriateness of temporarily deviating from the indexation rule provided for in a contract, is at the discretion of the contractors.
The ICHTrev-TS comprises a cost index and an employer contributions index. The latter measures changes in the variable “1 + rate of employer contributions”, where the rate of employer contributions is the percentage of employer social contributions and taxes minus subsidies based on wages and employment. Unlike the cost index, the employer contributions index is not made monthly (the three monthly values for the same quarter are identical).
Next publications :
Flash estimate of the third quarter of 2025: 14 November 2025 at 8:45 am.
Detailed results of the third quarter of 2025: 17 December 2025 at 8:45 am.
Pour en savoir plus
Since December 2023, the results of the revised hourly labour cost index – All employees (ICHTrev-TS) are provided alongside this publication. The methodological notes for this index are available in the “Documentation” tab, and the results can be consulted via the downloadable supplementary data file or the time series attached to this publication.
The ICHTrev-TS is primarily intended for users who need indicators of labour costs to upgrade their contracts. Therefore, this index (base 100 in December 2008) is not usually subject to any revision after publication. It is computed, every quarter, on the basis of data from the detailed results of the LCI then smoothed and made monthly to ensure less volatility. The choice of an index for the purpose of indexing a contract, or the appropriateness of temporarily deviating from the indexation rule provided for in a contract, is at the discretion of the contractors.
The ICHTrev-TS comprises a cost index and an employer contributions index. The latter measures changes in the variable “1 + rate of employer contributions”, where the rate of employer contributions is the percentage of employer social contributions and taxes minus subsidies based on wages and employment. Unlike the cost index, the employer contributions index is not made monthly (the three monthly values for the same quarter are identical).
Next publications :
Flash estimate of the third quarter of 2025: 14 November 2025 at 8:45 am.
Detailed results of the third quarter of 2025: 17 December 2025 at 8:45 am.
Times series: Labour cost index - Base 2020
Times series: Revised Hourly Labour Cost Index - All employees (ICHTrev-TS)
Informations Rapides: Labour cost index (LCI) – Flash Estimate