BUCHAREST (Romania), September 3 (SeeNews) – Romania's hourly labour costs rose by 12.46% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2019 and were 5.70% higher over the first quarter, the statistical board, INS, announced on Tuesday.
On an annual comparison basis, the hourly labour costs increased in all sectors of economic activity in the second quarter of 2019.
The highest increases of the hourly labour cost in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2018 were observed in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 21.68%, in financial and insurance activities - by 16.88% and in real estate activities - by 11.43%.
The lowest increases were registered in construction - by 2.05%.
As against the same quarter of the previous year, the increase for direct costs such as wages and salaries was of 12.51%, while for the non-wages costs, the increase was by 10.87%
As against the previous quarter, the highest increases in hourly labour costs in the second quarter of 2019 were observed in in education - by 21.81%), followed by construction - by 18.28% and by arts, entertainment and recreation - by 17.78%.
The lowest increases of the hourly labour cost were in information and communication - by 6.67%, in mining and quarrying - by 7.48%, in human health and social work activities - by 8.09% and in financial and insurance activities by 8.47%.