France hourly labour costs: electricity, gas & steam
France hourly labour costs: electricity, gas & steam stood at 113.1 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 - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (NAF rev. 2 item D) | 113.1 | 114.6 | 112.2 | 112 | 111 | 112.2 | 111.8 | 108.7 | 109.1 | 110 | |
| hourly costs - Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (NAF rev. 2 item E) | 115.2 | 114.8 | 114.5 | 113.5 | 112.8 | 113 | 111.8 | 110.2 | 110.3 | 109.3 |
Understanding france hourly labour costs: electricity, gas & steam
Personnel expenditure per hour worked within utilities generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity, gas, steam, and conditioned air forms the foundation of this series. The calculation incorporates gross remuneration, overtime pay, continuous-operation shift premiums, employer social contributions, and supplementary pension financing, scaled against total hours logged by staff. Unlike consumer-facing retail or hospitality metrics, this sector features continuous operational cycles, highly technical staffing requirements, and strict regulatory oversight that shapes collective bargaining agreements and compensation structures.
Evaluating this index requires attention to scheduled revisions that incorporate late administrative returns and audited payroll adjustments from utility operators. Analysts should favor year-on-year comparisons to neutralize the impact of periodic collective wage settlements that typically occur during fixed months of the year. Comparing these utility costs directly with manufacturing indices can reveal divergence due to the high proportion of specialized engineering and technical personnel required for grid management and power generation.
Frequently asked questions
- Which utility services are captured within this specific hourly labour cost measure?
- The series measures costs for personnel engaged in electricity generation and distribution, gas manufacturing and distribution, steam production, and air conditioning supply.
- Why do shift differentials play a significant role in this specific index?
- Utility networks operate continuously, requiring round-the-clock staffing that frequently incurs premium pay for night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- What distinguishes this utility series from standard industrial labour cost measures?
- It focuses strictly on energy and utility infrastructure operations, which involve distinct technical skill requirements and continuous shift patterns.