Labour Costs in the United States decreased to 121.64 points in the third quarter of 2025 from 122.23 points in the second quarter of 2025. Labour Costs in the United States averaged 59.44 points from 1947 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 123.13 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 128.55 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 129.67 points in 2027 and 133.82 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Dec 2025
Continuing Jobless Claims 1844.00 1819.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employed Persons 163992.00 163760.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Cost Index 0.80 0.90 percent Sep 2025
Employment Rate 59.70 59.60 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment 135215.00 134325.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Government Payrolls 13.00 6.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Initial Jobless Claims 231.00 209.00 Thousand Jan 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6542.00 6928.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Job Openings 6728.00 7947.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 212.25 206.25 Thousand Jan 2026
Participation Rate 62.40 62.50 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 121.64 122.23 points Sep 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.14 1.11 percent Dec 2025
Manufacturing Payrolls -8.00 -2.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 50.00 56.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 37.00 50.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 28712.00 29452.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Productivity 117.97 116.55 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 7503.00 7781.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.50 percent Dec 2025
Wages 31.76 31.73 USD/Hour Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 29.51 29.49 USD/Hour Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 10.40 10.60 percent Dec 2025


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
121.64 122.23 123.13 14.98 1947 - 2025 points Quarterly
2017=100, SA