1.
labor costs; personnel expenses
The total cost of employing staff, including salaries, benefits, and related expenses. A key term in business and accounting.
人件費を削減する。
To reduce labor costs.
人件費が経費の大半を占めている。
Labor costs account for the majority of expenses.
海外に工場を移転して人件費を抑える企業が増えている。
More companies are relocating factories overseas to keep labor costs down.
Composed of 人件 (personnel matters) + 費 (expense, cost). Refers to all expenses related to employing people, including wages, bonuses, social insurance, and benefits.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 人件費を削減する (to cut labor costs)
- 人件費を抑える (to hold down labor costs)
- 人件費が高い (labor costs are high)
- 人件費の割合 (proportion of labor costs)
- 人件費率 (labor cost ratio)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 給与 — salary, pay; refers to individual compensation, not total cost
- 経費 — expenses; broader term covering all business costs
- 固定費 — fixed costs; 人件費 is often the largest component
USAGE:
This is a standard business and accounting term. In Japan, 人件費 is a frequent topic in news about corporate restructuring, as companies often look to reduce it through automation, outsourcing, or relocation.