The EU's statistical office measured average hourly labour costs in the EU and eurozone's economies, excluding agriculture and the public sector.

With 42.5 euro of hourly labour costs, Denmark topped the list, followed by Belgium (39.6 euro) and Luxembourg (37.6 euro), whereas Bulgaria was at the bottom with 4.9 euro.

Lower hourly labour costs than in Slovenia were measured in all nine members that joined the bloc together with Slovenia in 2004 as well as in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Portugal.

The cost of an hour of labour in the entire EU rose by 2.3% over 2016 and by 1.9% in the eurozone, according to Eurostat.

Hourly labour costs factor in salaries and other costs such as social contributions.