Summary
The Labour Cost Index adjusted for working days decreased by 0.3% in the 1st quarter of 2013, compared with the same period in 2012. This change had been -8.1% in the previous quarter.
The two main labour cost items are wage costs (per hour actually worked) and other costs (non-wage costs, notably employers’ social security contributions, per hour actually worked). Wage costs decreased by 1.3% from the same period a year earlier, while other costs increased by 3.3%.