Home > Statistics > Labour cost index > 2010 > 1st quarter > Cost of labour for an hour worked rose by 4.7 per cent in January-March

Published: 8 June 2010

Cost of labour for an hour worked rose by 4.7 per cent in January-March

Private sector labour costs rose by 4.7 per cent in Janyaryr-March 2010 when compared with the respective period of the year before. Labour costs excluding one-off items, such as performance bonuses, rose by 3.3 per cent in the period. In the first quarter of 2010 the index of wage and salary earnings rose 3.0 per cent in the private sector.

From 2008 to 2009, labour costs rose by 4.3 per cent and the rise excluding one-off items was 4.5 per cent.

As the time series according to the new method is available only since the beginning of 2007, it has not been possible to seasonally adjust 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.Mid-week holidays didin't affect the comparability of data concerning the first quarter. Statistics Finland publishes seasonally and working day adjusted series when there are enough observa-tions to calculate reliable results.

Calculated by industry, the cost of an hour worked in industry rose by3.8 per cent in January-March 2010 when compared with the respective time period of the year before. Costs reduced in Food industry, at 1.7 per cent. By contrast, labour costs in construction rose by 2.8 per cent in January-March 2010 when compared with the respective time period of the year before. In service industries the rise amounted to 6.7 per cent.

Annual changes of Labour cost in all industries, industry, construction and services according Standard Industrial Classification 2008

Code	Industry	Labour Costs, Year-on-year change
		Labour costs, all	Labour costs, excluding one-off items
B-S	Total	4,7	3,3
B-E	Industry	3,1	0,3
F	Construction	2,8	1,8
G-N	Services	6,7	5,8

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

• 1. Labour costs, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 (8.6.2010)
• 2. Labour costs, Percentage changes, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 (8.6.2010)
• 3. Labour costs, excluding one-off items, Labour Cost Index 2008=100 (8.6.2010)
• 4. Labour costs, excluding one-off items, percentage changesm Labour Cost Index 2008=100 (8.6.2010)
• Standard Industrial Classification 2008 (8.6.2010)

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Updated 8.6.2010