In the second quarter of 2026, labour productivity in the EU increased by 0.9% based on persons and by 0.8% based on hours worked, compared with the same quarter of the previous year. In the first quarter of 2026, labour productivity had increased by 0.4% based on both persons and hours worked compared with the same quarter of the previous year.
This calculation combines gross domestic product (GDP) and employment data to show the real output produced per employed person, or per hour worked.
Labour productivity increased in most EU countries
Slovenia recorded the largest increase in labour productivity based on persons, with a 4.5% rise compared with the second quarter of 2025. Denmark followed with a 3.6% increase and Lithuania with 3.5%. Only Ireland (-1.0%), Romania (-0.8%) and Italy (-0.4%) registered declines in labour productivity based on persons.
Slovenia also had the largest increase in labour productivity based on hours worked (+5.8%), followed by Denmark (+3.5%) and Latvia (+3.4%). Labour productivity based on hours worked dropped in 5 EU countries, with the largest declines in Romania (-1.2%), Czechia (-0.8%) and Portugal (-0.5%), while it was stable in Ireland.
For more information
- Thematic section on national accounts
- Thematic sub-section on productivity indicators
- Database on national accounts
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