Labour Costs in the United States increased to 122.55 points in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 121.72 points in the third quarter of 2025. Labour Costs in the United States averaged 59.64 points from 1947 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 123.17 points in the first quarter of 2025 and a record low of 14.98 points in the second quarter of 1947. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Labour Costs in the United States is expected to be 127.16 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Nonfarm Unit Labor Costs is projected to trend around 130.65 points in 2027 and 134.83 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.20 0.40 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Mar 2026
Continuing Jobless Claims 1818.00 1787.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Employed Persons 162848.00 162912.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.70 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Employment Rate 59.20 59.30 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 134676.00 134341.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Government Payrolls -8.00 -4.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Initial Jobless Claims 207.00 218.00 Thousand Apr 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6882.00 7240.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Job Openings 6649.00 7377.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 209.75 209.25 Thousand Apr 2026
Participation Rate 61.90 62.00 percent Mar 2026
Labour Costs 122.55 121.72 points Dec 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.07 1.11 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 15.00 -6.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 178.00 -133.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 186.00 -129.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 28290.00 28478.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Productivity 119.64 118.81 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 7239.00 7571.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Mar 2026
Wages 32.07 32.02 USD/Hour Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 29.95 29.82 USD/Hour Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 8.50 9.50 percent Mar 2026


United States Nonfarm Unit Labor Costs
Labor Costs refers to the relationship between compensation per hour and labor productivity, or real output per hour, and can be used as an indicator of inflationary pressure on producers.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
122.55 121.72 123.17 14.98 1947 - 2025 points Quarterly
2017=100, SA