Grote verschillen tussen EU-lidstaten in loonkosten per uur (en) - Hoofdinhoud

The average hourly labour costs were estimated to be €23.1 in the EU271 business economy2 in 2011, and €27.6 in the euro area1 (EA17). However, this average masks significant differences between Member States, with hourly labour costs ranging from €3.5 to €39.3. Labour costs are made up of costs for wages & salaries, plus non-wage costs such as employer's social contributions.

In 2011, the highest hourly labour costs were estimated for Belgium (€39.3), Sweden (€39.1), Denmark (€38.6), France (€34.2), Luxembourg (€33.7), the Netherlands (€31.1) and Germany (€30.1). The lowest hourly labour costs were estimated for Bulgaria (€3.5), Romania (€4.2 in 20103), Lithuania (€5.5) and Latvia (€5.9). While comparing labour cost estimates in euro over time, it should be noted that data for those Member States outside the euro area are influenced by exchange rate movements.

These preliminary estimates for 2011, published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, cover enterprises with more than 10 employees and are based on the 2008 Labour Cost Survey and the Labour Cost Index.

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  2010 data

Eurostat estimates of Hourly Labour Costs - Methodological Notes

Data sources

Labour cost index

The Labour Cost Index (LCI) is a short-term indicator showing the development of hourly labour costs incurred by employers. It is calculated dividing the labour cost by the number of hours worked. Labour costs are made up of costs for wages & salaries, plus non-wage costs such as employer's social contributions. These do not include vocational training costs or other expenditures such as recruitment costs, spending on working clothes, etc. The LCI covers all business units irrespective of the number of employees and all economic activities except agriculture, forestry and fishing, private households and extra-territorial organisations.

Labour Cost Survey

The Labour cost survey (LCS) provides structural information on labour costs. The survey is conducted every four years. The most recent LCS refers to information for the year 2008. The LCS covers observation units with 10 or more employees and all economic activities except agriculture, forestry and fishing, public administration, private households and extra-territorial organisations.

Estimation method

Estimates for years after 2008 are obtained by extrapolating the 2008 LCS hourly labour cost of the business economy in euro and national currency using the LCI.

The non-adjusted LCI is used in the calculations for all Member States, except for Denmark, France and Sweden where the working day-adjusted LCI is used.

The LCI of countries is unaffected by exchange rate movements, which are only taken into account when calculating the European aggregates. In order to use the LCI for calculating monetary estimates in euros, exchange rate movements have to be incorporated. Therefore, for non-euro area countries an exchange-rate adjusted LCI index is used.

Additional information is available at:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Labour_cost_index_-_recent_trends#Hourly_labour_cost_in_euros

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  The EU27 includes Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), the Czech Republic (CZ), Denmark (DK), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Ireland (IE), Greece (EL), Spain (ES), France (FR), Italy (IT), Cyprus (CY), Latvia (LV), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Hungary (HU), Malta (MT), the Netherlands (NL), Austria (AT), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK), Finland (FI), Sweden (SE) and the United Kingdom (UK). The euro area (EA17) consists of Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.

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  Business economy includes NACE Rev.2 sections B to N: B Mining and quarrying; C Manufacturing; D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities;

  F Construction; G Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; H Transportation and storage;

  I Accommodation and food service activities; J Information and communication; K Financial and insurance activities;

  L Real estate activities; M Professional, scientific and technical activities; N Administrative and support service activities.

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  Data for Romania and Spain for 2009 and 2010 are not estimated by Eurostat, but are annual data provided by the Member States.

Eurostat news releases on the internet: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

Labour cost per hour in euros

Labour cost per hour in national currency (countries outside the euro area)

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  Data not available

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  Annual data provided by Member State

Source: 2008 - Labour Cost Survey; 2009, 2010 and 2011 - Eurostat estimate