The index of labor productivity in agriculture rises by 9.2% in 2025 compared to 2024. This is a clear acceleration after previous years where the agricultural economy grew more moderately.
Growth is observed in the majority of the European Union. Labor productivity increases in 19 EU countries. The strongest rises are recorded in Luxembourg, Poland, and Estonia, with increases of 40%, 33%, and 31% respectively.
In eight EU countries, labor productivity decreases. The largest declines are seen in Croatia, followed by Portugal and Greece. In these countries, productivity is clearly lower than in 2024.
The remarkable increase has two direct causes. The real income of agricultural enterprises rises by 8.1%, while the amount of hired labor decreases by 1.0%. Together, these changes result in higher output per labor unit.
The sector also shows growth in monetary terms. The gross value added of agriculture in the European Union rises by 10.3% in 2025. This means the sector contributes more to the economy than a year earlier.
The value of total agricultural production increased by 5.3% over the same period. At the same time, operational consumption, such as energy, animal feed, and other inputs, grows by 1.5%. Thus, output grows faster than costs.
Looking at a longer term, the picture becomes even clearer. In 2025, labor productivity in European agriculture is 49.4% higher than ten years ago. Since 2015, real income has risen by 20.8%, while labor input has fallen by 19.1%.
Labor productivity in EU agriculture does not measure the income of individual farmers or farm families. The figure reflects how much real income is generated per full-time labor unit, taking labor, capital, and land into account together.