Informations Rapides ·
14 November 2025 · n° 281
In Q3 2025, both hourly wages and hourly costs increased by 1.9% over a year Labour cost index (LCI) – Flash estimate - third quarter 2025
Slight slowdown in hourly wages and hourly costs in the third quarter of 2025
In the third quarter of 2025, hourly wages in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) barely slowed: +1.9% over a year, after +2.0% in the previous quarter. This slowdown was part of a trend that has been observed since mid-2023, as wage negotiations took account of falling inflation: the consumer price index increased by 1.0% over a year on average in the third quarter of 2025, after +0.8% in the previous quarter, which is still significantly below the pace seen in the previous two years (+2.0% on annual average in 2024, +4.9% in 2023). In addition, the payments of the Value Sharing Premium (“PPV”) slightly decreased over a year: €445 million had been paid to employees in the third quarter of 2025, compared with €499 million a year earlier.
By business sectors, hourly wages slowedin construction (+1.9% over a year in the third quarter of 2025, after +2.3%) and in services (+1.6% over a year, after +1.8%), while they significantly accelerated in industry (+2.7% over a year, after +2.2%).
In the third quarter of 2025, the hourly labour costs (wages and salaries, contributions, taxes net of subsidies) in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) continued to slow, in line with wages, on which the rate of increase is now aligned: +1.9% over a year, after +2.0% in the previous quarter.
tableauChanges in LCI - hourly wages and LCI - hourly costs
| Changes in hourly wages in the third quarter of 2025 | Changes in hourly costs in the third quarter of 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-on-quarter | Year-on-year | Quarter-on-quarter | Year-on-year | |
| INDUSTRY | 0.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| CONSTRUCTION | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
| SERVICES | 0.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
| TOTAL | 0.4 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE – Labour Cost Index (LCI), flash estimate.
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly wage (flash estimate)
| Total | Industry | Construction | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q3 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 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 wage (flash estimate)
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE – Labour cost index (LCI), flash estimate.
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly cost (flash estimate)
| Total | Industry | Services | Construction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q3 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| 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 cost (flash estimate)
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE – Labour cost index (LCI), flash estimate.
For further information
The flash estimate of the Labour Cost Index (LCI) is published approximatively 45 days after the end of the considered quarter. It is produced by using data from the Nominative Social Declaration (DSN) in advance. It anticipates the estimate of the detailed results, published approximately 75 days after the end of the quarter in question, which uses more complete information from the same source. When the flash estimate of LCI for a given quarter is published, data on previous quarters are not revised.
A methodological note, available in the “Documentation” tab of the web version of this publication, presents the indicator in details, as well as the methodological revisions implemented since the publication of the detailed results of the LCI for the first quarter of 2025 (revision of the chain for processing the information available on wages and updating of the methods for estimating the indicators).
An INSEE blog post (2023, in French) showed the link and differences with short-term wage indicators, in particular the Basic Monthly Wage (SMB) from the Acemo survey.
Next publication of the detailed results of the third quarter of 2025: 17 December 2025 at 8:45 am.
Next publication of the flash estimate of the fourth quarter of 2025: 13 February 2026 at 8:45 am.
Documentation
Methodology note (pdf,511 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
The flash estimate of the Labour Cost Index (LCI) is published approximatively 45 days after the end of the considered quarter. It is produced by using data from the Nominative Social Declaration (DSN) in advance. It anticipates the estimate of the detailed results, published approximately 75 days after the end of the quarter in question, which uses more complete information from the same source. When the flash estimate of LCI for a given quarter is published, data on previous quarters are not revised.
A methodological note, available in the “Documentation” tab of the web version of this publication, presents the indicator in details, as well as the methodological revisions implemented since the publication of the detailed results of the LCI for the first quarter of 2025 (revision of the chain for processing the information available on wages and updating of the methods for estimating the indicators).
An INSEE blog post (2023, in French) showed the link and differences with short-term wage indicators, in particular the Basic Monthly Wage (SMB) from the Acemo survey.
Next publication of the detailed results of the third quarter of 2025: 17 December 2025 at 8:45 am.
Next publication of the flash estimate of the fourth quarter of 2025: 13 February 2026 at 8:45 am.
Times series: Labour cost index - Base 2020
Informations Rapides: Labour cost index (LCI) - Detailed results
INSEE blog post (in french): Measuring short-term wages changes: a range of complementary statistical indicators