{
  "name": "The Cost of Work Index",
  "version": "2026.3",
  "dateModified": "2026-08-04",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "markets": [
    {
      "market": "en",
      "currency": "USD",
      "hourlyLabourCost": 23.66,
      "hourlyLabourCostSource": "bls-oes-2024"
    },
    {
      "market": "el",
      "currency": "EUR",
      "hourlyLabourCost": 16.7,
      "hourlyLabourCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024"
    },
    {
      "market": "uk",
      "currency": "UAH",
      "hourlyLabourCost": 196.78,
      "hourlyLabourCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "bls-oes-2024",
      "footnote": 1,
      "publisher": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
      "title": "Occupational Outlook Handbook — Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (43-3031)",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks.htm",
      "period": "May 2024",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-04",
      "derivation": "Published median annual wage of $49,210 divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks) gives $23.66 per hour. This is gross wage only — employer taxes and overhead are not added, so the real cost of an hour is higher than the figure we use."
    },
    {
      "id": "eurostat-lc-2024",
      "footnote": 2,
      "publisher": "Eurostat",
      "title": "EU hourly labour costs ranged from €11 to €55 in 2024",
      "url": "https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250328-1",
      "period": "2024",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-04",
      "derivation": "Greece’s whole-economy hourly labour cost for 2024 is €16.70 (enterprises with 10 or more employees). Unlike the US figure this one already includes employer contributions, so it is a fully loaded hourly cost. Eurostat has since published its 2025 round — the EU average rose from €33.5 to €34.9 — so this row is due to be refreshed against it."
    },
    {
      "id": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
      "footnote": 3,
      "publisher": "State Statistics Service of Ukraine (Derzhstat)",
      "title": "Average monthly wage of full-time employees",
      "url": "https://www.ukrstat.gov.ua/operativ/operativ2005/gdn/Zarp_ek_p/Zarp_ek_p_u/arh_zpp_u.html",
      "period": "June 2026",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-04",
      "derivation": "Average gross monthly wage of ₴32,783 divided by 166.6 hours — the average statutory monthly norm — gives ₴196.78 per hour. Gross wage only; the figure excludes temporarily occupied territories and active combat areas, as Derzhstat states. Ukrainian wages are rising fast (₴26,623 in September 2025), so this row goes stale quicker than the other two and is worth re-reading each quarter."
    }
  ],
  "tasks": [
    {
      "id": "invoice-entry",
      "task": "Entering a supplier invoice into the records",
      "unit": "processed invoice",
      "employee": "Nika",
      "employeeStatus": "live",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 8,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "The default our public calculator has used since launch: open the mail, read the document, file it, then type supplier, date, number, amount and VAT.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one invoice that arrives by email and ends up in the records with every field filled. Chasing a missing invoice is not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 3.15,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.4,
          "multiple": 7.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 2.23,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.4,
          "multiple": 5.6
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 26.24,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 19,
          "multiple": 1.4
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "lead-callback",
      "task": "Calling a new enquiry back and booking a meeting",
      "unit": "booked qualified meeting",
      "employee": "Sofia",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 25,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Rarely one call. Counts the attempts that go unanswered, the call that connects, the qualifying questions and writing the meeting into the calendar.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one qualified meeting in the calendar, not one dial. Enquiries that never answer are part of the cost of the ones that do.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 9.86,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 5,
          "multiple": 2
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 6.96,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 5,
          "multiple": 1.4
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 81.99,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 240,
          "multiple": 0.3
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "appointment-rescue",
      "task": "Confirming a booking and re-filling a slot that would be lost",
      "unit": "saved slot",
      "employee": "Helen",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 12,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "The reminder itself is quick. The time goes on the cancellation that arrives late and the calls down the waiting list to fill the gap.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one slot that would have gone empty and did not. Reminders for bookings that were always going to happen are not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 4.73,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 1.5,
          "multiple": 3.2
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 3.34,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 1.5,
          "multiple": 2.2
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 39.36,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 70,
          "multiple": 0.6
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "review-reply",
      "task": "Reading a customer review and answering it publicly",
      "unit": "handled review",
      "employee": "Nick",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 9,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Reading the review, checking what actually happened with that customer, drafting something you are willing to have in public, and posting it.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one review answered on the platform it was left on. Reviews that need a refund decision go to the owner and are not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 3.55,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.4,
          "multiple": 8.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 2.51,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.4,
          "multiple": 6.3
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 29.52,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 19,
          "multiple": 1.6
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "receivables-chase",
      "task": "Chasing one overdue invoice until it is paid",
      "unit": "collected overdue invoice",
      "employee": "Daniel",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 20,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Spread over weeks: the first polite email, the second one, the phone call, and re-checking the bank before each contact so you do not chase money that already arrived.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one overdue invoice that ends up paid. Time spent on invoices that go to legal or get written off is not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 7.89,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 2,
          "multiple": 3.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 5.57,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 2,
          "multiple": 2.8
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 65.59,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 95,
          "multiple": 0.7
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "returns-case",
      "task": "Handling a return or complaint from first message to closed",
      "unit": "closed case",
      "employee": "Chris",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 14,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Finding the order, asking for the photo or the reason, explaining the rule, arranging the pickup or the replacement, and closing the thread.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one case closed under the shop’s own returns rule. Anything needing a goodwill exception goes to the owner.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 5.52,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.8,
          "multiple": 6.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 3.9,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.8,
          "multiple": 4.9
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 45.92,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 39,
          "multiple": 1.2
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "cod-confirmation",
      "task": "Confirming a cash-on-delivery order before it ships",
      "unit": "confirmed order",
      "employee": "Martha",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 5,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "One short call or message per order, plus the repeat attempts for the customers who do not pick up the first time.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one order confirmed or cancelled before dispatch — the point of the job is not shipping parcels nobody wanted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 1.97,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.5,
          "multiple": 3.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 1.39,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.5,
          "multiple": 2.8
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 16.4,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 25,
          "multiple": 0.7
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "customer-winback",
      "task": "Reaching a lapsed customer until they buy again",
      "unit": "returned customer",
      "employee": "Andrew",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 18,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Most of it is the people who never come back. Counts pulling the list, the message, the follow-up, and the ones that go nowhere.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one customer who actually buys again. The unanswered attempts are the cost of the ones that work.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 7.1,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 3,
          "multiple": 2.4
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 5.01,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 3,
          "multiple": 1.7
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 59.03,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 145,
          "multiple": 0.4
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "supplier-price-check",
      "task": "Collecting supplier prices into one weekly comparison",
      "unit": "weekly report",
      "employee": "Peter",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 95,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "A weekly report, not a single lookup: opening every supplier’s list or portal, copying the lines that matter, and putting last week’s prices next to this week’s.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one week’s comparison across the suppliers you actually buy from. Negotiating with them is a separate job.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 37.46,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 10,
          "multiple": 3.7
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 26.44,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 10,
          "multiple": 2.6
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 311.57,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 480,
          "multiple": 0.6
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "quote-build",
      "task": "Building a quote and sending it out",
      "unit": "sent quote",
      "employee": "Tom",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 16,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Reading what the customer asked for, finding the right prices, writing it into the template, checking the total, and sending.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one quote sent from your own price list and template. Custom pricing decisions go to the owner.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 6.31,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.8,
          "multiple": 7.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 4.45,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.8,
          "multiple": 5.6
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 52.47,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 39,
          "multiple": 1.3
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "shift-schedule",
      "task": "Building next week’s shift schedule",
      "unit": "closed week",
      "employee": "Steve",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 75,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Collecting who cannot work when, fitting people to the hours the business is open, then the two or three rounds of swaps after everyone has seen it.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one week closed — published and agreed, including the swaps. Hiring and payroll are not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 29.58,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 8,
          "multiple": 3.7
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 20.88,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 8,
          "multiple": 2.6
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 245.98,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 385,
          "multiple": 0.6
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "candidate-screening",
      "task": "First-round screening of one candidate",
      "unit": "candidate delivered to interview",
      "employee": "Katerina",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 22,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "Reading the application, the short screening call, and writing down enough that the person doing the real interview does not start from zero.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one candidate handed over ready for a real interview. Sourcing and offers are not counted.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 8.68,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 4,
          "multiple": 2.2
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 6.12,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 4,
          "multiple": 1.5
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 72.15,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 190,
          "multiple": 0.4
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "service-followup",
      "task": "Calling a customer after the job and writing down what they said",
      "unit": "surveyed customer",
      "employee": "Irene",
      "employeeStatus": "waitlist",
      "humanMinutesPerUnit": 7,
      "humanMinutesBasis": "A short call, the attempts that miss, and typing the answer somewhere it can actually be read later.",
      "humanMinutesKind": "estimate",
      "method": "One unit is one customer actually reached and their answer recorded. Unreached customers are part of the cost.",
      "byMarket": {
        "en": {
          "currency": "USD",
          "humanHourlyCost": 23.66,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "bls-oes-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 2.76,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.7,
          "multiple": 3.9
        },
        "el": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "humanHourlyCost": 16.7,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "eurostat-lc-2024",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 1.95,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 0.7,
          "multiple": 2.8
        },
        "uk": {
          "currency": "UAH",
          "humanHourlyCost": 196.78,
          "humanHourlyCostSource": "ukrstat-wage-2026",
          "humanCostPerUnit": 22.96,
          "aiCostPerUnit": 35,
          "multiple": 0.7
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}