In the Labour Cost Survey (LCS) information is collected about the costs employers have for their employees. The results describe for example the labour costs per hour worked in different sectors and countries.

This is a European survey carried out in each EU Member State every four years. Statistics Sweden carries out the survey on behalf of the Swedish National Mediation Office, which is responsible for official statistics on wages and labour costs in Sweden. 

Data should be submitted about the number of employees, hours, salary costs, benefits in kind, social insurance contributions, other labor costs and subsidies.

The data should refer to the reference period 1 January to 31 December 2024.

We recommend that you read the following instructions before logging in and start submitting information. The instructions describe the information requested and what needs to be available when you complete the web questionnaire.

Enclosed are the instructions and a viewing form providing the requested information.

Instructions (pdf)
Viewing form (pdf)

Payroll systems contain much of the data that will be requested. Please check that employees are correctly entered in the personnel register, that the requested information is linked to the correct salary types, and that any period of absence is registered prior to reporting. In some payroll systems, it is possible to export a statistics report as a basis for this survey. Contact your system provider if you have any questions about this.

Some information can also be retrieved from the accounting section of financial systems. If data is retrieved from both a payroll system and a financial system, you must ensure that the information is consistent. For example, check that the financial figures refer to the employees who are to be included in the survey.

Login information has been sent out in mid-March 2025 to the organizations selected in the survey.

The last response date is 23 April, 2025.

What is important to consider when I contact Statistics Sweden regarding the survey?

Please provide your Corporate ID number, name, e-mail and phone number, so we can handle your case faster. Also, specify that it concerns the Labour Cost Survey (LCS).

Can we get an extension on the submission period?

Contact us if you need an extension period to respond to the survey. Please remember to provide your Corporate ID number.

What should we do if we have difficulties submitting data for the full year 2024?

The information should refer to the calendar year 2024. In some cases, another period may be used. Please note that all information must refer to the same period.

- If you have a split financial year:
Sum up the parts of the two financial years that fall within the calendar year 2024. If this is not possible, you may report the split financial year by selecting the financial year that covers the majority of 2024. Report which period the data refers to and comment on this when you submit the data.

- If you have other reasons:
If information is not available for the full year 2024, due to for example change of payroll system or seasonal operations; please state the period for which you are providing the data and explain the reason for the deviation from the calendar year 2024.

Our enterprise has merged with another enterprise, what should we do?

Please contact us and provide a description of what has happened with the business and the employees. Please specify the date of the merger, as well as the names and Corporate ID numbers of all involved companies, and we will get back to you.

Our company was closed down/went bankrupt in 2024 and no longer has any operations, what should we do? 

Please contact us and provide your Corporate ID, the date when the company was closed down/went bankrupt/stopped operate. If the business continue under another Corporate ID, please provide us also with that Corporate ID number, and we will get back to you.

If the business does not continue in another company, you report for the part of 2024 when you were active.

What should we do if a selected local unit has closed down or does not have any employees?

Please contact us and provide the local unit number (CFAR number) and the name of the local unit that has closed down or no longer has any employees. Additionally include the date when the local unit closed down and indicate whether operations have continued at another local unit under the same Corporate ID number. If so, provide the address and name of the other local unit.

Which units are included in the survey?

The survey covers both the private and public sectors. The selected unit is the Corporate ID number for enterprises, regions, and parts of the governmental sector. For municipalities and other parts of the governmental sector, the selected unit is the local unit (CFAR number). To ensure the reliability of the statistics, it is important that all selected units report the requested information.

Do we have to provide information?

Yes, it is a legal obligation to provide information to Statistics Sweden for the Labour Cost Survey. For more details, please read more in the section on ‘Legal Information’. 

The results will be primarily published on Eurostat’s website.

Part of the results will also be published under the subject area Labour Market on Statistics Sweden’s website Labour Cost Survey (LCS).  

There is a statutory obligation to provide information under the Official Statistics Act (2001:99). The statistics are also regulated by the Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100) and the regulation for the Swedish National Mediation Office (SCB-FS 2024:9), published in Statistics Sweden’s Code of Statutes.

The information provided is protected in accordance with Chapter 24, Section 8 of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). When the information is published, individual companies/local units will not be identifiable.

Consultations have taken place with the Board of Swedish Industry and Commerce for Better Regulation (NNR) and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions in accordance with the Ordinance concerning Government Authorities’ Collection of Data from Business Operators and Local Authorities (1982:668).