Home > Statistics > Labour cost index > 2012 > 2nd quarter > Cost of labour for an hour worked increased by 5.3 per cent in April to June

Published: 7 September 2012

Cost of labour for an hour worked increased by 5.3 per cent in April to June

In the private sector labour costs increased by 5.3 per cent in April to June 2012 when compared with the respective period of the year before. Labour costs excluding one-off items, such as performance-based bonuses, rose by 5.2 per cent compared with the respective period of the year before. In the corresponding period the index of wage and salary earnings rose by 3.7 per cent in the private sector. In the central government sector labour costs grew by 5.8 per cent and labour costs excluding one-off items rose by 5.7 per cent in April to June. In the local government sector labour costs increased by 4.0 per cent and costs excluding one-off items rose by 3.8 per cent in April to June.

As the time series according to the new method is available only since the beginning of 2007, it has not been possible to adjust seasonally the index data. The timing of so-called moving mid-week holidays, such as Easter and Epiphany, affects the comparability of data concerning the first, second and fourth quarters. Statistics Finland publishes seasonally and working-day adjusted series when there are enough observations to calculate reliable results. There was one mid-week holiday more in the second quarter than in the respective period of the year before. The growing number of mid-week holidays makes labour costs rise in the Labour Cost Index.

Calculated by industry, the cost of an hour worked in industry increased by 6.0 per cent in April to June 2012 when compared with the respective period of the year before. The cost of an hour worked increased in the metal industry by 10.2 per cent and in construction by 6.5 per cent in April to June 2012 when compared with the respective period of the year before. In the business services sector the rise amounted to 4.3 per cent.

Annual changes in labour costs in all industries, industry, construction and services according to Standard Industrial Classification 2008

Code	Industry	Labour Costs, Year-on-year change
		Labour costs, all	Labour costs, excluding one-off items
B-S	Total	5,3	5,2
B-E	Industry	6,0	6,1
F	Construction	6,5	6,2
G-N	Business service sector	4,3	4,1
J-R	State sector	5,8	5,7
E-S	Local government sector	4,0	3,8

Source: Wages, Salaries and Labour Costs, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pekka Haapala 09 1734 3460, tvkindeksi@stat.fi

Director in charge: Kari Molnar

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Labour costs, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 1) (7.9.2012)
• Appendix table 2. Labour costs, percentage changes, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 1) (7.9.2012)
• Appendix table 3. Labour costs, excluding one-off items, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 1) (7.9.2012)
• Appendix table 4. Labour costs, excluding one-off items, percentage changes Labour Cost Index 2008=100 1) (7.9.2012)
• Appendix table 5. Standard Industrial Classification 2008 (7.9.2012)

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Updated 7.9.2012