Informations Rapides ·
15 September 2026 · n° 219
In Q2 2026, hourly wages increased by 2.4% over a year, hourly costs by 2.5% Labour cost index (LCI) - Detailed results - second quarter 2026
In Q2 2026, hourly wages increased by 0.5% over the quarter and by 2.4% over a year
Hourly wages in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) accelerated in the second quarter of 2026: +0.5% over the quarter, after +0.2% in the previous quarter (seasonally and trading day adjusted data). This acceleration was driven in particular by the revaluation of the minimum wage (“Smic”) in June 2026 (+2.4%), in a context of rising inflation. Meanwhile, the payments of the Value Sharing Premium (“PPV”) rose slightly both quarterly and over a year: €605 millions were paid to the employees in Q2 2026, after €492 millions in the last quarter and €545 millions in Q2 2025. The contribution of the Value Sharing Premium to the quarterly wages growth remained quite low (+0.1 percentage points).
Over a year, wages also accelerated in Q2 2026: +2.4%, after +2.1% in the previous quarter. The revaluation of the minimum wage in June 2026 was also the main reason of this acceleration.
By sector, in Q2 2026, hourly wages accelerated over a year in services (+2.4% after +2.1%) and in construction (+2.4%, after +2.2%) while they slowed down slightly in industry (+2.0%, after +2.1%).
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly wages
| Total | Industry | Construction | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| 2026-Q1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| 2025-Q4 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.7 |
| 2025-Q3 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| 2025-Q2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| 2025-Q1 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 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 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| 2022-Q4 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| 2022-Q3 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| 2022-Q1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| 2021-Q4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.8 | -0.1 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| 2021-Q2 | -3.0 | -2.3 | -1.4 | -3.1 |
| 2021-Q1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | -0.4 | 2.3 |
| 2020-Q4 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 3.5 |
| 2020-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 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 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 2019-Q2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 2019-Q1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 2.0 |
| 2018-Q4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 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 | 3.8 | 1.5 |
| 2017-Q3 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 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 | 3.0 | 1.2 |
| 2016-Q2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| 2016-Q1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 1.6 |
| 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 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| 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 | 2.3 |
| 2013-Q4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 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 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1-26 | Q2-26 | Q1-26 | Q2-26 | |
| Industry | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Mining and quarrying | -0.8 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Manufacturing | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2.3 | -1.4 | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | -0.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| Construction | -1.2 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Services | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | -0.4 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| Transportation and storage | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | -0.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Information and communication | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2.1 | -0.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Real estate activities | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | -0.1 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 |
| TOTAL | 0.2 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
- Scope: non-agricultural market sector excluding services to households.
- Source: URSSAF Caisse nationale, INSEE - Labour Cost Index (LCI), detailed results.
In Q2 2026, hourly labour costs increased by 0.4% over the quarter and by 2.5% over a year
In the second quarter of 2026, hourly labour costs (wages, contributions and taxes, net of subsidies) in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) rose by 0.4% over the quarter, as in the previous quarter.
Over a year, hourly labour costs accelerated slightly: +2.5% in the second quarter of 2026, after +2.4% in the previous quarter. This acceleration, which was more moderate than that of salaries, was due to more dynamic social security contribution exemptions over a year: the freeze of their salary scale, decided in June, may not yet have had its full impact.
By sector, hourly labour costs accelerated over a year in services (+2.6%, after +2.3%), whereas it slowed down in industry (+2.3%, after +2.6%) and kept its growth pace in construction (+2.0%, as in the previous quarter).
tableauYear-on-year changes of LCI – hourly costs
| Total | Industry | Services | Construction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| 2026-Q1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| 2025-Q4 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.9 |
| 2025-Q3 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| 2025-Q2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| 2025-Q1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| 2024-Q4 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| 2024-Q3 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| 2023-Q4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.3 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.1 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| 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 | 0.8 |
| 2021-Q3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 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 | 0.6 |
| 2020-Q3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | -0.1 |
| 2020-Q2 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 3.4 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| 2019-Q4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| 2019-Q3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 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 | 1.7 |
| 2017-Q4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 4.1 |
| 2017-Q3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| 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 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 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 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 2014-Q4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 2014-Q3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2014-Q2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| 2014-Q1 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 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 | 0.1 | -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 | 1.6 | 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1-26 | Q2-26 | Q1-26 | Q2-26 | |
| Industry | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0.1 | -0.1 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Manufacturing | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2.1 | -1.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 |
| Construction | -1.7 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Services | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | -0.1 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Transportation and storage | 0.7 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 2.3 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | -0.5 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
| Information and communication | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2.5 | -0.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Real estate activities | 0.6 | -0.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 0.2 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| TOTAL | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
- 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 7 August 2026, the year-on-year change in both LCI - hourly wages and LCI - hourly costs in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) in Q2 2026 was revised upwards by 0.1 points. This revision is primarily the result of the integration of new information, including the inclusion of late reports from enterprises.
Compared to the previous detailed results published on 16 June 2026, the year-on-year change in both LCI - hourly wages and LCI - hourly costs in the non-agricultural market sector (excluding services to households) in Q1 2026 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 2026: 13 November 2026 at 8:45 am.
Detailed results of the third quarter of 2026: 15 December 2026 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 2026: 13 November 2026 at 8:45 am.
Detailed results of the third quarter of 2026: 15 December 2026 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
INSEE blog post (in french): Measuring short-term wages changes: a range of complementary statistical indicators