France hourly labour cost index: industry
France hourly labour cost index: industry stood at 116.4 in Q2 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Wages and labour cost table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1998 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Wages and labour cost table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour cost index | |||||||||||
| hourly costs - Industry (NAF rev. 2 items B to E) | 116.4 | 116.3 | 115.5 | 114.3 | 113.7 | 113.5 | 112.3 | 110.7 | 110.8 | 109.9 | |
| hourly costs - Tertiairy sector (NAF rev. 2 items G to N) | 115.2 | 114.7 | 114.2 | 112.9 | 112.2 | 112.2 | 111.4 | 110.4 | 109.8 | 109 |
Understanding france hourly labour cost index: industry
The indicator measures hourly employer expenditures specifically within the industrial sector, covering manufacturing, mining, electricity, gas, and water supply. It differs from economy-wide labour cost measures by restricting its scope to goods-producing and utility activities where production processes involve specialized machinery and shift work premiums. The calculation accounts for all components of employer outlay per hour worked, including direct wages, overtime pay, shift allowances, and mandatory employer-paid social security contributions. Non-industrial activities such as retail trade, financial services, and public administration are entirely omitted from this calculation.
Reading the series requires caution regarding cyclical fluctuations in industrial output, which often trigger sudden changes in overtime hours and temporary worker utilization that affect the hourly cost denominator. Seasonality can appear through plant shutdowns during summer months or end-of-year holiday periods, making year-on-year comparisons more reliable than quarter-on-quarter changes for identifying underlying cost pressures. When contrasting this industrial series with service-sector equivalents, analysts must account for the higher share of fixed capital and shift-work bonuses typical of manufacturing environments.
Frequently asked questions
- Which economic activities are grouped inside the industry labour cost index?
- The index encompasses manufacturing, mining, energy production, and water supply operations.
- Are overtime payments and shift bonuses factored into these hourly industrial costs?
- Yes, all remuneration components paid directly by industrial employers, including overtime and shift premiums, are included.
- Why might quarter-on-quarter comparisons of industrial labour costs be misleading?
- Scheduled factory shutdowns and seasonal holiday periods alter hours worked and distort short-term quarterly cost movements.