Release: Index of Labour Costs Per Hour (ILCH) (Experimental), Q2 2011

Summary of findings:

At the whole economy level the experimental index of labour costs per hour increased by 3.0 per cent in Q2 2011 when compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Non-wage costs increased at a faster rate than wages, at 4.2 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively. The public sector's index of labour costs per hour grew faster than in the private sector during the second quarter of 2011. This in part reflects the reduced number of hours worked by public sector employees, many of whom benefited from the additional bank holiday for the Royal wedding that took place during the quarter. The public sector's annual growth rate was 4.0 per cent in Q2 2011, compared with 2.8 per cent in the private sector.