Question 1

What does WorkforceBench measure?

Accepted Answer

The statutory employer cost of employing someone in a given country — the payroll taxes and mandatory contributions an employer pays on top of gross salary, expressed as both a percentage and a total.

Question 2

What is employer burden?

Accepted Answer

Employer burden is the total mandatory cost an employer pays beyond an employee's gross salary — primarily payroll taxes and statutory social contributions such as pension, health insurance, and unemployment insurance. Expressed as a percentage of gross salary, it typically ranges from 9% in low-burden jurisdictions like the US or Canada to over 30% in high-contribution countries like France. It does not include optional benefits or Employer of Record service fees.

Question 3

How do employment costs differ by country?

Accepted Answer

Employment costs vary significantly by jurisdiction. North American countries like the US and Canada typically add 9–11% in employer payroll taxes, while European countries often range 16–35% due to broader social insurance systems. WorkforceBench tracks these rates across 10 countries using official government and intergovernmental data, so you can compare true employment costs side by side.

Question 4

Where does the data come from?

Accepted Answer

Public and official sources only: intergovernmental statistical bodies (OECD, Eurostat, ILOSTAT, World Bank) and national tax authorities. Each figure on a country page links to its source.

Question 5

How often is the data updated?

Accepted Answer

Country figures are re-validated weekly and served through incremental static regeneration. Records are versioned and dated, so the figure you see reflects a known point in time.

Question 6

Is it free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Country breakdowns, the calculator, and the API are publicly accessible. No account or personal data is required.

Employer cost intelligence for global hiring.

Employer cost by country

How the data is built

Official sources only

Versioned records

Weekly refresh

Public methodology

Built on public data

Frequently asked questions