The EU's statistical office Eurostat said euro zone hourly labour costs rose 3.9 per cent in the third quarter from the same period in 1999, compared to a revised 3.7 per cent year-on-year rise in the second quarter.
Before revision, the second quarter rise was 3.5 per cent.
For the 15 EU countries, labour costs in the third quarter grew 3.9 per cent from the previous year, compared to a revised 3.7 per cent year-on-year rise in the second quarter, it said.
The earlier figure for the second quarter was 3.8 per cent.
Italy saw the smallest annual rise in labour costs in the third quarter, up 0.8 per cent, while the Netherlands registered the largest increase, up 5.2 per cent. Labour costs in Austria and Finland rose by 4.3 per cent, it said. Figures for Ireland were not available.
In industry, hourly costs rose 3.8 per cent in the Euro zone, and 3.9 per cent in the EU 15, it said.
AFP
