Labour costs for an employer in Finland 34.2 Euro per hour in 2016

Collective bargaining in Finland

Labour costs in Finland were, on average, 34.2 Euro per hour in 2016, according to Statistics Finland in its Labour Cost Survey published in November 2018.

In the private sector the hourly costs for an employer were 34.7 Euro, in the local government sector 31.4 Euro and in the central government sector 40.8 Euro.

The costs varied within these sectors, too. In the private sector manufacturing industries had labour costs of 37.2 Euro per hour but in the service industry the figure was 33.9 Euro.

Cost of an hour worked and the cost per staff-year in Finland by employer sector in 2016

Cost of an hour worked and the cost per staff-year by employer sector in 2016

Sector / industry Labour cost, per hour worked, Euro Labour cost per staff-year, Euro
Sectors total 34.2 55 359
Private sector total 34.7 57 368
Manufacturing 37.2 62 401
Construction 34.0 59 302
Service industry 33.9 55 394
Consumer and business services 33.3 55 126
Welfare services 35.6 56 054
Local government sector 31.4 48 740
Central government sector 40.8 59 975

(Table source: Statistics Finland)

The labour costs per staff-year in the table depends not only on the cost of an hour worked, but also on the number of actual working hours per year.

The higher cost of central government labour can be explained by the big number of highly educated and expert personnel. Holidays are also longer than in the private sector, which naturally makes the price of an hour worked higher.

The hourly labour cost in Finland is lowest in the local government sector

The hourly labour cost is lowest in the local government sector. This is explained by low salaries, as the holidays in local government sector are often longer than in the private sector.

In manufacturing the cost of labour seems to grow with the size of the company. In the companies with 10 to 49 employees the cost per hour worked was 31.6 Euro. In the largest companies the cost was 42.4 Euro per hour. The same tendency can be seen in the social and welfare services sector.

In consumer and business services the labour cost is on the contrary low in big companies. These often involve people working in low-paid jobs like labour rental services, property maintenance and trade.

The labour cost survey is conducted every four years. In 2012 the cost of an hour worked for an employer was 31.6 Euro, in 2008  it was 27.4 Euro.

The figures indicate the total labour costs. On average, 76.0 per cent of these were wages and salaries. Social security costs were 21.5 per cent and other costs 2.5 per cent.

 

News

25.9.2023

Job Vacancy : General Director for European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)

12.9.2023

We compiled the effects of the Government Programme on employee’s rights and livelihoods

1.9.2023

The “Muutostöissä” campaign, led by social media influencers, aims to awaken awareness for the possibilities of a culturally diverse working life

6.6.2023

Statement: Charging full tuition fees would reduce the number of international experts in Finland

25.5.2023

STTK’s chairman’s speech at the ETUC congress: Together for a stronger ETUC

24.5.2023

STTK’s chairman’s speech at the ETUC congress: Together for an economy for the people and the planet

3.5.2023

Free Summer Job Helpline (Kesäduunari) offers advice to summer employees

17.3.2023

Luca Visentini relieved of his position as ITUC’s general secretary