人件費(じんけんひ)

Composed of 人件(じんけん) (personnel matters) + 費(ひ) (expense, cost). Refers to all expenses related to employing people, including wages, bonuses, social insurance, and benefits.

Common collocations

• 人件費(じんけんひ)を削減(さくげん)する (to cut labor costs)
• 人件費(じんけんひ)を抑(おさ)える (to hold down labor costs)
• 人件費(じんけんひ)が高(たか)い (labor costs are high)
• 人件費(じんけんひ)の割合(わりあい) (proportion of labor costs)
• 人件費(じんけんひ)率(りつ) (labor cost ratio)

Similar words

• 給与(きゅうよ) — salary, pay; refers to individual compensation, not total cost
• 経費(けいひ) — expenses; broader term covering all business costs
• 固定費(こていひ) — fixed costs; 人件費(じんけんひ) is often the largest component

Usage

This is a standard business and accounting term. In Japan, 人件費(じんけんひ) is a frequent topic in news about corporate restructuring, as companies often look to reduce it through automation, outsourcing, or relocation.