The Labour Cost Index (LCI) working days adjusted increased by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017. In the previous quarter, it was recorded a year-on-year decrease of 1.3%.
The two main labour cost components – wage costs and other costs (both per hour actually worked) – increased by 1.2% and 2.1%, respectively, compared to the same period of the previous year.
The LCI year-on-year rate of change was also explained by the increase of 0.2% in the average cost per employee and the decrease of 1.1% in the number of hours actually worked per employee. The decrease of the latter was common to all economic activities, while the increase of the former took place in all activities with the exception of the Public Administration, where a decrease was recorded.