Wages and salaries in the Euro Area increased 3.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, following a 3.1% rise in the last three months of 2025. The largest annual wage gains were seen in mining and quarrying (5.7% vs -1.5%), real estate (4.8% vs 4.5%), construction (44% vs 3.8%), and education (4.4% vs 4.5%). Wages in manufacturing also accelerated (3.6% vs 2.6%). Among the bloc's largest economies, wages rose faster in Germany (3.4% vs 2.7%), France (1.8% vs 1.4%), Italy (2.8% vs 2.2%), and Spain (5.1% vs 3.8%) but slowed in Netherlands (3.2% vs 4.5%). source: EUROSTAT

Wages In the Euro Area increased 3.40 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Euro Area averaged 2.49 percent from 2009 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 5.50 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and a record low of -0.50 percent in the second quarter of 2021. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Wage Growth - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area Wage Growth - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Wages In the Euro Area increased 3.40 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Euro Area is expected to be 2.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area Wage Growth is projected to trend around 2.50 percent in 2027 and 2.30 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-19 10:00 AM
Wage Growth YoY
Q4 3% 3.2% 2.8%
2026-06-16 09:00 AM
Wage Growth YoY
Q1 3.4% 3.1% 2.9%
2026-09-16 09:00 AM
Wage Growth YoY
Q2 3.4% 2.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Change 0.10 0.20 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 126899.40 127645.30 Thousand Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 75.50 75.60 percent Mar 2026
Labour Cost Index YoY 116.20 127.10 points Mar 2026
Long Term Unemployment Rate 2.00 2.00 percent Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 32170.10 32259.40 Thousand Mar 2026
Population 351.64 350.36 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 104.24 104.22 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 11075.00 11159.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.30 6.30 percent Apr 2026
Wage Growth YoY 3.40 3.10 percent Mar 2026
Wages 2652.00 2642.00 EUR/Month Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.70 15.10 percent Apr 2026


Euro Area Wage Growth
In the Euro Area, wage growth refers to the change in the total remuneration, in cash or in kind, payable to all persons counted on the payroll (including home workers), in return for work done during the accounting period, regardless of whether it is paid on the basis of working time, output or piecework and whether it is paid regularly.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.40 3.10 5.50 -0.50 2009 - 2026 percent Quarterly
WDA

News Stream
Euro Area Wage Growth Accelerates in Q1
Wages and salaries in the Euro Area increased 3.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, following a 3.1% rise in the last three months of 2025. The largest annual wage gains were seen in mining and quarrying (5.7% vs -1.5%), real estate (4.8% vs 4.5%), construction (44% vs 3.8%), and education (4.4% vs 4.5%). Wages in manufacturing also accelerated (3.6% vs 2.6%). Among the bloc's largest economies, wages rose faster in Germany (3.4% vs 2.7%), France (1.8% vs 1.4%), Italy (2.8% vs 2.2%), and Spain (5.1% vs 3.8%) but slowed in Netherlands (3.2% vs 4.5%).
2026-06-16
Eurozone Wages Grow the Least in 3 Years
Wages across the Eurozone rose 3.0% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, the least since Q3 2022, and slowing from 3.7% in the previous quarter. Among the region’s largest economies, wage growth decelerated notably in Germany (3.6% vs. 4.2% in Q2 2025), France (1.3% vs. 1.4%), Italy (2.4% vs. 3.4%), Spain (2.0% vs. 3.4%), and the Netherlands (3.6% vs. 6.3%).
2025-12-17
Eurozone Wage Growth Accelerates in Q2
Wages across the Eurozone rose by 3.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, up from a 3.4% increase in the previous quarter. Among the region’s largest economies, wage growth accelerated notably in Germany (3.8% vs. 2.9% in Q1) and the Netherlands (5.9% vs. 5.7%). By contrast, growth eased in Spain (3.4% vs. 3.8%), Italy (3.4% vs. 4.0%), and France (1.4% vs. 1.9%).
2025-09-16