Labour cost index in the private sector

Statistics Finland uses the collected data to compile an index describing changes in labour costs for an hour worked. In addition, printouts are provided from the data for the Index of Wage and Salary Earnings, national accounts statistics and business trend statistics.

The data from the data collection are used in the following statistics:

• Index of wage and salary earnings
• Labour cost index
• Labour cost survey

Statistics are beneficial for enterprises as well. Statistics can be used by enterprises to monitor, for example, the development of pay or trade in Finland. ⁠⁠The more comprehensive the data we receive from enterprises, the better our statistics describe the activity of enterprises. Enterprises will then get better statistics as a basis for their decision-making.

To thank you for responding, there is a link on the end page to a compilation of business statistics where you can view statistical data by industry. Previous statistical releases can also be accessed on the end page and the latest statistical news on selected topics can be ordered to your email free of charge there.

If the enterprise has closed operation, report the time of closing under “Additional information”. If the enterprise continues operation with a new Business ID, enter the new ID in the “New Business ID” field under “Additional information”.

Hours worked are reported for the same period as wages and salaries. If hours worked in the previous quarter are paid during the quarter, both the hours and corresponding wages and salaries have to be reported.

If seniority increment is included in monthly pay, seniority increment need not be broken down. In other case, seniority increment is reported in Other extraordinary or one-off pay.

Retrospective pay increases are specified in Other extraordinary or one-off pay.

Other retrospectively paid pay items – retrospectively paid overtime compensations or pay for overtime work – are reported in 3a. and in Other extraordinary or one-off pay.

Advance holiday pay is comparable to one-off pay items and is reported in Other extraordinary or one-off pay. Paid hours are not reported of one-off pay items.

Employment pension contributions are not charged from wage and salary earners aged under 17 and over 68. Unemployment insurance contributions do not, in turn, concern persons aged under 17 or over 65. These should be taken into account as a factor lowering the tariff when calculating the percentage share of social insurance contributions.

Paid leave in lieu of holiday pay reduces the number of hours worked, but has no effect on the number of paid hours.

In this situation, paid leave has increased due to working time arrangements. A leave of one day should be added to the number of paid hours of absence due to the compensation of overtime/Sunday work. If overtime work or Sunday work is compensated with paid leave of corresponding length, this does not have an effect on statistical reporting - overtime work or paid leave is thus not reported.

If compensations of hours in the working time bank are not paid during the quarter in question, the hours in the working time bank should not be visible in the statistics either.

If extra hours worked are paid from the working time bank as a monetary compensation (e.g. at the end of the employment relationship), the paid monetary compensation should be included in the wages and salaries sum subject to preliminary withholding tax, and it should also be specified in Other extraordinary or one-off pay.

A synthetic option is earned income and it should be included in the wages and salaries sum subject to preliminary withholding tax. In addition, it should be specified in Performance-based bonuses.

Tax-free bicycle benefits and employer-subsidized commuter tickets given as a wage component are included on the form only in 3a Pay subject to preliminary withholding tax in total. These items are not broken down into other labour costs on the form.