Hourly labour costs in the Baltic States rose the fastest in Lithuania in the first quarter of 2026, according to Eurostat data, ELTA reported. Nominal hourly labour costs in the whole economy rose by 8.6% in Lithuania, 6.2% in Estonia, and 2.3% in Latvia from the first quarter of 2025. Hourly wage costs alone went up by 8.6% in Lithuania, 6.3% in Estonia, and 2.5% in Latvia. In the business economy, hourly labour costs rose by 7.9% in Lithuania, 5.4% in Estonia, and 2.5% in Latvia. In the mainly non-business economy, hourly labour costs increased by 10.1% in Lithuania, 8.6% in Estonia, and 1.7% in Latvia. In industry, hourly labour costs grew by 9.0% in Lithuania, 6.6% in Estonia, and 3.7% in Latvia. In construction, hourly labour costs rose by 8.3% in Estonia and 6.3% in Lithuania, but fell by 0.4% in Latvia. In services, hourly labour costs went up by 7.8% in Lithuania, 4.3% in Estonia, and 2.5% in Latvia, according to Eurostat.
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