Wages are the most important component of labour costs, which also include non-wage costs such as employers' social contributions and taxes. As such, wages represent an important variable taken into account by employers in their attempt to improve their competitive position in national and international markets. The programme on wages is aimed at analysing the importance of wages within labour costs, collecting information on the different components of labour costs while identifying how far they influence employers' decisions with regard to employment, investment and capital relocations. Compiled on the basis of comparative figures, such assessment may be of direct use to governments, trade unions and employers to better understand the role played by wage and labour costs in a highly competitive and globalized environment.

A short presentation of labour cost methodology