The Labour Cost Index (LCI) working days adjusted increased by 4.7% in the 4th quarter of 2017, compared with the same period in 2016. In the previous quarter, it was recorded a year-on-year decrease of 0.9%.
In terms of the annual average, the Labour Cost Index increased by 2.5% in 2017, due to the rise of 2.4% in wage costs and of 2.7% in other labour costs. In the previous year, the LCI had recorded an increase of 1.4%, corresponding to rates of change of 1.6% in the wage costs and of 0.6% in the other costs.
By economic activity, in 2017, the LCI recorded an annual increase of 1.7% in the activities from sections B to N and an increase of 3.6% in the activities from sections O to S (which include the Public Administration).