Labour cost index shows the short-term development of the total cost, on an hourly basis, for employers of employing the labour force. The index covers all market economic activities except agriculture, forestry, fisheries, education, health, community, social and personal service activities. Labour costs include gross wages and salaries, employers social contributions and taxes net of subsidies connected to employment. The labour cost index is compiled as a "chain-linked Laspeyres cost-index" using a common index reference period (2012 = 100). The index is presented in calendar and seasonally adjusted form. Growth rates with respect to the previous quarter (Q/Q-1) are calculated from seasonally and calendar adjusted figures while growth rates with respect to the same quarter of the previous year (Q/Q-4) are calculated from calendar adjusted figures.