According to Eurostat, costs here rose by more than eight percent to an hourly rate of just under 16 euros.

This was still substantially behind the EU average, and less than half the 32 euros spent on the average worker in the Eurozone.

The rate across the border in Spain stood at 22 euros, while Bulgaria was the lowest, at 6 euros 50. Danish companies meanwhile spent the most, with workers earning just under 46 euros