labor cost

[/ˈleɪbər kɔst/]
nounpl: labor costs
custo de mão de obra
1. The total expense incurred by a company for employee wages, salaries, benefits, and related employment taxes
The factory's labor costs increased by 15% this year due to wage raises.
Os custos de mão de obra da fábrica aumentaram 15% este ano devido aos aumentos salariais.
2. In accounting and economics, the direct and indirect costs associated with hiring and maintaining a workforce
Management decided to reduce labor costs by implementing automation in the production line.
A administração decidiu reduzir os custos de mão de obra implementando automação na linha de produção.
3. The expense portion of a project or product that represents compensation for work performed
Labor costs account for 40% of the total construction project budget.
Os custos de mão de obra representam 40% do orçamento total do projeto de construção.
In Brazil, controlling labor costs is a major concern for manufacturing and service industries, particularly given the country's complex labor laws and payroll taxes. Companies often discuss 'custos de mão de obra' in the context of competitiveness and operational efficiency. In the USA, labor cost management is critical for maintaining profit margins, especially in manufacturing sectors affected by international competition.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
wage expensepayroll costemployment costlabor expense
Antonyms / Antônimos
material costoverhead reduction

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
custo de mão de obra
Standard term used in business and accounting contexts throughout Brazil
São Paulo
custo de mão de obra / custos trabalhistas
Business hub frequently uses both terms; 'custos trabalhistas' emphasizes employment-related expenses
Rio de Janeiro
custo de mão de obra
Standard usage in commercial and industrial contexts
Portugal
custo de mão de obra / custo laboral
Both terms used; 'custo laboral' is also common in European Portuguese

Related Words

payrollwagessalarybenefitsemployment taxesproductivityworkforce

Related Idioms & Phrases

cut labor costs
labor costs through the roof
keep labor costs down
labor-intensive (high labor costs)
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