The total hourly labour cost in Bulgaria rose by 7.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2016, the National statistical Institute (NSI) announced on 21 June.

In January-March 2016, the total hourly labour cost grew by 8.6% in industry, 7.0% in services and 8.4% in construction, the NSI said, citing preliminary data.

The breakdown by economic activities showed that the highest annual growths in total labour costs were recorded in ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - 14.5%, ‘Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ - 11.5% and ‘Manufacturing’ - 11.4%. The lowest increase in total labour costs was observed in ‘Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities’ by 0.7% and ‘Mining and quarrying’ by 2.8%. Decrease in total labour costs was observed in ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ and ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ by 6.3% and 2.1% respectively.

In the structure of labour costs, the wages and salaries costs per hour worked grew by 7.6% in comparison with the first quarter of 2015, while non-wage costs (the actual and imputed social insurance contribution paid by employers plus taxes regarded as labour costs) rose by 7.8%.

The total hourly labour cost grew by 8.6% in industry, by 7.0% in services and by 8.4% in construction.