Labour productivity and unit labour costs

Data - Eurostat

Author

François Geerolf

Info

Last observation: Quarterly: 2026Q1 (N = 1,307)

First observation: Quarterly: 1980Q1 (N = 24)

Last data update: 23 jul 2026, 22:12. Last compile: 24 jul 2026, 03:03

Structure

Info

Eurostat. Unit labour cost (ULC) measures the average cost of labour per unit of output. It is calculated as the ratio of labour costs to labour productivity. ULC represents a link between productivity and the cost of labour in producing output. Input data are obtained through official transmissions of national accounts’ country data in the European system of accounts - ESA 2010 - transmission programme. Nominal ULC (NULC) is calculated as: [ D1 / EEM] / [ B1GQ / ETO], where: D1 = Compensation of employees, all industries, in current prices EEM = Employees, all industries, in persons (following the domestic concept) B1GQ = Gross domestic product at market prices in millions, chain-linked volumes ETO = Total employment, all industries, in persons (following the domestic concept).
BLS. Unit Labor Cost (ULC) is how much a business pays its workers to produce one unit of output. Businesses pay workers compensation that can include both wages and benefits, such as health insurance and retirement contributions.

https://www.bls.gov/k12/productivity-101/content/what-is-productivity/what-is-unit-labor-cost.htm

na_item: France, Germany, Italy

2022Q2

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         time == "2022Q2") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  
  
  select(s_adj, na_item, Na_item, values, unit, Unit, Geo) %>%
  spread(Geo, values) %>%
  {if (is_html_output()) datatable(., filter = 'top', rownames = F) else .}

2022Q3

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         time == "2022Q3") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  
  
  select(s_adj, na_item, Na_item, values, unit, Unit, Geo) %>%
  spread(Geo, values) %>%
  {if (is_html_output()) datatable(., filter = 'top', rownames = F) else .}

2022Q4

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         time == "2022Q4") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  
  
  select(s_adj, na_item, Na_item, values, unit, Unit, Geo) %>%
  spread(Geo, values) %>%
  {if (is_html_output()) datatable(., filter = 'top', rownames = F) else .}

RLPR_HW - Real labour productivity per hour worked

France, Germany, Italy

All

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_HW",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 10),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

1995-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_HW",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1995-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

1996-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_HW",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1996-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  group_by(geo) %>%
  mutate(values = 100*values/ values[date == as.Date("1996-01-01")]) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_log10(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = "", acc = 1))

2010-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_HW",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("2010-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 2),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

RLPR_PER - Real labour productivity per person

France, Germany, Italy

All

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 10),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

1995-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1995-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

1996-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1996-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  group_by(geo) %>%
  mutate(values = 100*values/ values[date == as.Date("1996-01-01")]) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_log10(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = "", acc = 1))

2010-

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "RLPR_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "SCA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("2010-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 2),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

NULC_PER - Nominal unit labour cost based on persons

Greece, Spain, Portugal

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("EL", "ES", "PT"),
         na_item == "NULC_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "NSA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("Nominal unit labour cost based on persons") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 10),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

France, Germany, Italy

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "NULC_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "NSA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("Nominal unit labour cost based on persons") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 10),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

France, Germany

NSA

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE"),
         na_item == "NULC_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "NSA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1990-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("Nominal unit labour cost based on persons") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_2flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

NSA

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE"),
         na_item == "NULC_PER",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "NSA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  filter(date >= as.Date("1990-01-01")) %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("Nominal unit labour cost based on persons") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_2flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 5),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))

NULC_HW - Nominal unit labour cost based on hours worked

France, Germany, Italy

Code

namq_10_lp_ulc %>%
  filter(geo %in% c("FR", "DE", "IT"),
         na_item == "NULC_HW",
         unit == "I15",
         s_adj == "NSA") %>%
  quarter_to_date %>%
  
  left_join(colors, by = c("Geo" = "country")) %>%
  ggplot + theme_minimal() + xlab("") + ylab("Nominal unit labour cost based on hours worked") +
  geom_line(aes(x = date, y = values, color = color)) +
  scale_color_identity() + add_3flags +
  theme(legend.position = c(0.3, 0.85),
        legend.title = element_blank()) +
  scale_x_date(breaks = as.Date(paste0(seq(1960, 2100, 2), "-01-01")),
               labels = date_format("%Y")) +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 200, 10),
                     labels = scales::dollar_format(su = "", p = ""))