Hourly labour costs in Cyprus rose 3.7% in the first quarter

Hourly labour costs in Cyprus rose 3.7% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to preliminary figures released by the Statistical Service .

Wages and salaries per hour increased 3.8% year‑on‑year, while non‑wage costs — mainly employer social‑insurance contributions and taxes minus subsidies — rose 3.3%.

Seasonally adjusted, total hourly labor costs were up 1.1% from the previous quarter. Wages and salaries also rose 1.1% quarter‑on‑quarter, and non‑wage costs increased 1.5%.

The labor‑cost index, based on 2020=100, reached 119.80 unadjusted and 128.06 seasonally adjusted in the first quarter.

The Statistical Service noted that data from the first quarter of 2025 onward are preliminary and subject to revision.

Famagusta Gazette