Translation guide
The expense associated with employing workers, including wages, benefits, and related overhead. In Japanese, this is expressed with terms that vary by context—from direct payroll expenses to broader personnel costs in business settings.
The cost of paying workers for their labor, typically on an hourly or salaried basis.
The most common and general term for labor costs, covering wages, salaries, and related personnel expenses. Used in business, accounting, and everyday contexts.
人件費を削減する必要がある。
We need to reduce labor costs.
このプロジェクトの人件費は予算の半分を占めている。
Labor costs for this project account for half of the budget.
A more formal accounting term for labor costs, often used in cost accounting or manufacturing contexts. It can include direct and indirect labor.
製造原価のうち、労務費が最も高い。
Among manufacturing costs, labor costs are the highest.
The broader cost of employing staff, beyond just wages—such as social insurance, training, and welfare.
Also covers total personnel expenses in many contexts. When discussing overall employment costs, this is the go-to term.
人件費には給与だけでなく社会保険料も含まれる。
Labor costs include not only salaries but also social insurance premiums.
Total labor costs, used when emphasizing the aggregate figure.
今年度の人件費総額は前年比5%増だ。
Total labor costs this fiscal year are up 5% from last year.
In economics, the price of labor as an input, often discussed in terms of unit labor cost or wage rates.
A direct loanword from English, common in economic reports and business analysis. Emphasizes labor as a production factor.
日本の労働コストは国際的に見て高い。
Japan's labor costs are high by international standards.
Unit labor cost, a specific economic indicator measuring labor cost per unit of output.
単位労働コストの上昇がインフレ圧力となっている。
Rising unit labor costs are creating inflationary pressure.
When quoting or estimating the cost of labor for a particular job, such as construction, repair, or freelance work.
Commonly used in trades like construction, auto repair, or manufacturing to refer to the labor charge for a specific task.
修理代のうち、作業工賃は1万円です。
Of the repair cost, the labor charge is 10,000 yen.
A shorter term for labor charge, often seen in invoices or estimates for manual work.
工賃は別途いただきます。
Labor costs will be charged separately.
人件費 is the most versatile and widely understood term for labor costs in general business contexts. 労務費 is more technical and often used in cost accounting or manufacturing. 労働コスト is a loanword that emphasizes labor as an economic factor and is common in macroeconomic discussions.
Do not translate 'labor cost' word-for-word as 労働費用 or 労働のコスト. While understandable, these are not natural Japanese. Use the established terms above.