# Nominal unit labour cost, annual growth

Percentage change from the previous year in the nominal unit labour cost based on persons: compensation per employee divided by real labour productivity per person employed (GDP in chain-linked volumes per person employed).

## Key facts

- Nominal unit labour cost, annual growth in the European Union (27) was 3.3% in 2025, according to Eurostat, European Commission.
- Bulgaria had the highest nominal unit labour cost, annual growth of 26 EU countries in 2025, at 9.4%, and Ireland the lowest, at -3%. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.
- Published for 27 places, with figures from 2004 to 2025.
- Figures last updated on 2026-10-18.

- Indicator id: `nominal_unit_labour_cost_growth`
- Unit: %
- Note: Rises when pay grows faster than productivity. From the national accounts (ESA 2010). Ireland's GDP, and with it its productivity, is inflated and made volatile by the activities of multinational companies, notably the move of intellectual property to Ireland in 2015.
- Web page: https://invokely.ai/en/nominal-unit-labour-cost-growth
- API: https://invokely.ai/api/v1/indicators/nominal_unit_labour_cost_growth

## Latest figures

| Place | Period | % | Source |
|---|---|---:|---|
| European Union (27) | 2025 | 3.3 | Eurostat. Labour productivity and unit labour costs, nominal unit labour cost based on persons, percentage change on previous period (nama_10_lp_ulc). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10_lp_ulc/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-18. |

## Rankings

- [EU countries](https://invokely.ai/rankings/nominal-unit-labour-cost-growth/eu-countries.md) (26 places)