EN
Changes in the perception of creative sources of competitive advantage in contemporary businesses as well as those taking place in the company environment have resulted in the view that activities in the personnel sphere are costs - the previous way of thinking being replaced by a new approach - that this is a unique investment. However, this in no way means that it is no longer necessary to monitor expenditures on a continuous basis. Therefore, this article defines labor costs and personnel expenditures, followed by an analysis of the size, structure, directions, and dynamics of changes that have occurred. This is presented in its comprehensive, unit, and relative aspects in companies traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange over the years 1998 and 2003.