The total wage index increased by 7.6% between the first quarter of 2024 and the same quarter of 2025. In the same period the labour cost index increased by 4.2%.
This difference is largely explained by Easter being in the second quarter of 2025 instead of the first quarter as in 2024, transferring days of leave between quarters. This affects the labour cost index, which is based on hours worked, but not the total wage index, which is based on hours paid.