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Spanish labor costs and wage trends

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2026-09-17 08:50 UTC → 2026-09-17 20:09 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Recent data regarding the Spanish economy highlights mixed trends in labor costs and wages. In the Cantabria region, average monthly labor costs per worker fell by 2.5% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, though this represented a 4.7% increase from the first quarter of the same year. The average wage in Cantabria reached 2,283 euros, which is 7.5% higher year-on-year but remains below the national average of 2,512 euros. Nationally, the average monthly salary in Spain reached 2,055 euros in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the prior year. However, when adjusted for an average inflation rate of 2.7%, the estimated real gain in purchasing power is only 0.7%. Sectoral analysis shows the construction industry experienced the highest wage growth at 4.4%, while the hospitality sector remains the lowest-paid with an average monthly salary of 1,331 euros. Cumulative data from 2019 to 2025 suggests a total loss of purchasing power of 1.1% as price increases have outpaced wage growth. By the second quarter of 2026, labor costs in Spain reached a 26-year high. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the average monthly labor cost per worker rose 4% year-on-year to 3,388.15 euros, marking 22 consecutive quarters of increases. Gross average salaries also climbed 4% to 2,512.68 euros. Regional variations persist; in Castilla-La Mancha, average labor costs rose 3.6% to 3,002.68 euros, while in Galicia, costs increased by 2.8% to 2,963.05 euros. Cantabria continued to see a year-on-year decrease in average labor costs, settling at 3,110 euros.

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