Informations Rapides ·
7 August 2026 · n° 193
In Q2 2026, hourly wages increased by 2.3% over a year, hourly cost by 2.4% Labour cost index (LCI) – Flash estimate - second quarter 2026
Moderate acceleration in hourly wages in the second quarter of 2026
In the second quarter of 2026, hourly wages in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) accelerated moderately over a year: +2.3% over a year, after +2.0% in the previous quarter. This acceleration was due in particular to the revaluation of the minimum wage in June 2026 (+2.4%), amid a resurgence in inflation. In addition, the payments of the Value Sharing Premium (“PPV”) slightly increased over a year in Q2 2026: €603 millions had been paid to employees this quarter, compared with €546 millions a year earlier.
By business sectors, hourly wages accelerated in services (+2.3% over a year, after +1.9%), and to a lesser extent, in construction (+2.3%, after +2.2%). On the other hand, they slowed down slightly in industry (+2.0%, after +2.2%).
Very slight acceleration in hourly labour cost
The hourly labour costs (wages and salaries, contributions, taxes net of exemptions and subsidies) in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) barely accelerated in Q2 2026: +2.4% over a year, after +2.3% in the previous quarter. The labour cost accelerated at a slower rate than wages in Q2 2026 mainly because of more dynamic social security contribution exemptions.
The labour cost slowed down in industry in Q2 2026 (+2.4% over a year, after +2.8%) and barely decelerated in construction (+1.9% over a year, after +2.0%). On the other hand, it accelerated slightly in services (+2.4% over a year, after +2.2%).
tableauChanges in LCI - hourly wages and LCI - hourly costs
| Changes in hourly wages in the second quarter of 2026 | Changes in hourly costs in the second quarter of 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-on-quarter | Year-on-year | Quarter-on-quarter | Year-on-year | |
| INDUSTRY | -0.2 | 2.0 | -0.2 | 2.4 |
| CONSTRUCTION | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| SERVICES | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| TOTAL | 0.4 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 2026-Q1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.9 |
| 2025-Q4 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| 2025-Q3 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| 2025-Q2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| 2025-Q1 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
| 2024-Q4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| 2024-Q3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.9 |
| 2022-Q4 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| 2022-Q3 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| 2022-Q1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| 2021-Q4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.8 | -0.1 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| 2021-Q2 | -3.0 | -2.4 | -1.3 | -3.1 |
| 2021-Q1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | -0.4 | 2.3 |
| 2020-Q4 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| 2020-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 |
| 2020-Q2 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 7.6 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| 2019-Q4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| 2019-Q2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 2019-Q1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
| 2018-Q3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q2 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q1 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| 2017-Q4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.5 |
| 2017-Q3 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
| 2017-Q2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.9 |
| 2017-Q1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| 2016-Q4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| 2016-Q3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 |
| 2016-Q2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| 2016-Q1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 1.6 |
| 2015-Q4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.5 |
| 2015-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| 2015-Q2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| 2015-Q1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 2014-Q4 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| 2014-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| 2014-Q2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| 2014-Q1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| 2013-Q4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| 2013-Q3 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
| 2013-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
| 2013-Q1 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| 2012-Q4 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| 2012-Q3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| 2012-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| 2026-Q1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| 2025-Q4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 3.8 |
| 2025-Q3 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| 2025-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| 2025-Q1 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| 2024-Q4 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| 2024-Q3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| 2022-Q4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| 2022-Q3 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| 2022-Q1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 3.3 |
| 2021-Q4 | -0.1 | 0.5 | -0.4 | 0.9 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 2021-Q2 | -3.4 | -2.7 | -3.4 | -2.8 |
| 2021-Q1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | -1.7 |
| 2020-Q4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| 2020-Q3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | -0.2 |
| 2020-Q2 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 3.4 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| 2019-Q4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| 2019-Q2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| 2019-Q1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 3.4 |
| 2018-Q4 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 0.5 |
| 2018-Q3 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| 2018-Q2 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| 2018-Q1 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
| 2017-Q4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 4.2 |
| 2017-Q3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| 2017-Q2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| 2017-Q1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | -0.2 | 2.2 |
| 2016-Q4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| 2016-Q3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 |
| 2016-Q2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.6 |
| 2016-Q1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| 2015-Q4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| 2015-Q3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 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 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 2014-Q3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2014-Q2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| 2014-Q1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| 2013-Q4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 2013-Q3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 2013-Q2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 2013-Q1 | 0.1 | -0.2 | 0.3 | -0.6 |
| 2012-Q4 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| 2012-Q3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| 2012-Q2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| 2012-Q1 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 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.
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 second quarter of 2026: 15 September 2026 at 8:45 am.
Next publication of the flash estimate of the third quarter of 2026: 13 November 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.
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 second quarter of 2026: 15 September 2026 at 8:45 am.
Next publication of the flash estimate of the third quarter of 2026: 13 November 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