Labor costs chain 20 quarters of increases
Wage costs rose 4.7% annually in the State in the second quarter
BarcelonaThe cost per hour worked in Spain rose by 4.8% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2025, a rate six tenths lower than the previous quarter, according to the provisional data of the Harmonized Labor Cost Index (ICLA) published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). With the rebound in the April-June 2026 period, labor costs have chained 20 quarters of year-on-year increases; that is, five consecutive years of increases.
By component, the wage cost increased in the second quarter of 2026 by 4.7% in relation to the same quarter of 2025, also totaling 20 quarters of year-on-year increases. For its part, other costs rose by 4.8%. Labor costs, excluding extraordinary payments and arrears, grew by 4.8% year-on-year between April and June of this year.
Excluding seasonal and calendar effects, the labor cost per hour worked increased by 4.2% year-on-year in the second quarter of this year, a rate eight tenths lower than the previous quarter. With this rebound, 20 quarters of positive rates are also chained in the adjusted series.
In quarterly terms (second quarter over first quarter), the labor cost per hour worked increased by 0.4% in the series adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, a rate 1.5 points lower than that of the previous quarter and the least pronounced since the third quarter of 2025. With this rise, 20 quarters of quarterly increases are also accumulated.
The wage cost rose by 7.5% quarterly in the unadjusted series and other costs increased by 2.3%, while the labor cost, excluding extraordinary payments and arrears, advanced by 4.1%.
The administration records the largest wage increases
Within the unadjusted series, the activities that recorded the most significant year-on-year increases in hourly wage costs in the second quarter were public administration and defense, with 8.3%; education, with 7.9%, and real estate activities and administrative activities, both with an advance of 7.1%. Meanwhile, in the hospitality sector, wages rose by 3.1% year-on-year.
In the second quarter of 2026, only the supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning cut wages in year-on-year terms, with a decrease of 9.9%.