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Labour cost index

The Labour cost index (LCI) measures the development of the costs borne by employers per hour worked on a quarterly basis. The LCI provides short-term information on economic development. It is calculated for individual economic activities (sections B to S of ÖNACE 2008) and for summaries thereof (B–S - whole economy, B–F - manufacturing sector, G–S - service sector, B–N - business economy and O–S­). The following index series are created (each per hour worked):

  • Total labour costs
  • Gross wages and salaries
  • Indirect labour costs (employer social security contributions + taxes – subsidies)
  • Total labour costs excluding bonuses (only sections B to F of ÖNACE 2008)

These index series of sections B to S of ÖNACE 2008 are available unadjusted, adjusted for working day and adjusted for seasonal variation and working day.

The LCI is created and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 450/2003 and sent to Eurostat 70 days after the end of each quarter.

S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Labour cost index, base year 2020. Compiled on 11 March 2025. – Most recent quarter is preliminary. – The whole economy includes sections B to S according to ÖNACE 2008. – A methodological modification in the manufacturing sector (sections B to F according to ÖNACE 2008) caused a slight level shift of these index series for total labour costs with a negligible effect on the rates of change for the economy as a whole. – In sections G to S, the fourth quarter of 2024 was forecasted. This estimate will be replaced by the publication of the first quarter of 2025 at the latest. – Currently sections H to N and P to S have no significant effect on working days; consequently the summary B to S is calculated by using working-day adjusted and unadjusted sections.

S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Labour cost index, base year 2020. Compiled on 11 March 2025. – Most recent quarter is preliminary. – The whole economy includes sections B to S according to ÖNACE 2008. – A methodological modification in the manufacturing sector (sections B to F according to ÖNACE 2008) caused a slight level shift of these index series for total labour costs with a negligible effect on the rates of change for the economy as a whole. – In sections G to S, the fourth quarter of 2024 was forecasted. This estimate will be replaced by the publication of the first quarter of 2025 at the latest. – Currently sections H to N and P to S have no significant effect on working days; consequently the summary B to S is calculated by using working-day adjusted and unadjusted sections.

Date result SDDS+ Special Data Dissemination Standards PR PR press release
2025-12-17 calendar-alt Labour Cost Index 3rd quarter 2025
Labour market / Labour costs and index of agreed minimum wages / Labour costs / Labour cost index 		provisional
2025-09-10 calendar-alt Labour Cost Index 2nd quarter 2025
Labour market / Labour costs and index of agreed minimum wages / Labour costs / Labour cost index 		provisional
2025-06-11 calendar-alt Labour Cost Index 1st quarter 2025
Labour market / Labour costs and index of agreed minimum wages / Labour costs / Labour cost index 		provisional
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Last updated on 2025-03-12.