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Labour cost survey

Companies that employ workers incur labour costs (wages and salaries, social security costs, training and further education costs, etc.). In the context of economic competition, wage and non-wage labour costs are among several key location factors (such as labour productivity, workforce qualifications, and corporate taxes)

Every four years, STATISTICS AUSTRIA conducts a survey of labour costs utilising uniform and internationally comparable standards. The current survey relates to the reporting year 2024.

In accordance with Article 8 of the Labour Cost Statistics Regulation, companies and other survey units are obliged to provide information. The submission deadline according to the ordinance is 25 May 2025.

Relevant national legal bases for the Labour cost survey:

Relevant EU legal bases for the Labour cost survey:

Data collected in the survey are kept strictly confidential according to the confidentiality requirements laid down in the Austrian Federal Statistics Act and are used only for purposes foreseen there.

The data privacy information explains the processing of personal data in the Labour cost survey.

Statistics Austria relies on the cooperation of each individual enterprise in order to be able to achieve results of the required statistical quality and significance. Please submit the data requested in good time, completely and to the best of your knowledge. Those who fail to comply with the obligation to give information by refusing contribution, or who knowingly provides incomplete information or information that does not correspond to the best of their knowledge, commits an administrative offence and is subject to an administrative penal procedure under § 66 of the Federal Statistics Act 2000.

We are aware that the survey is an additional burden for your company. However, we endeavour to keep the effort for you as low as possible. 

The labour cost survey is conducted every four years. The reference period is the business year of an enterprise, which was recently concluded and which covers most months of the reference period.

The reporting requests for the 2024 reporting year are dispatched from 8 April 2025. Please do not submit your report until you have received the request.

The statutory reporting deadline is 25 May 2025.

If it is not possible to meet the closing date, Statistics Austria can prolong the reporting period to support enterprises fulfilling their obligation to report. In the case of lacking technical requirements to report electronically the enterprise has to respond to the reporting request in writing within two weeks. Then, Statistics Austria sends paper forms to the respondent.

The "Labour cost survey" is not offered in English.

Labour cost survey Phone: +43 1 711 28-8600
akoe@statistik.gv.at Available by telephone from:
Mon - Thu 7.30 am - 4.00 pm, Fri 7.30 am - 2.00 pm
Last updated on 2025-04-11.