Early estimates
Article 5
1. Early estimates for the labour cost index referred to in Article 4(1), point (b)(ii), and the job vacancies referred to in Article 4(1), point (c)(i), shall be transmitted: (a) by Member States whose annual number of employees represents more than 3 % of the Union total, for each of the 3 last years; and (b) by Member States of the euro area whose annual number of employees represents more than 3 % of the euro area total, for each of the 3 last years; 2. The shares of employees in the Union total and euro area total mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be assessed by the Commission (Eurostat) based on the available European Union labour force survey annual data. 3. Where there is any change in the list of Member States whose annual number of employees is higher than the thresholds referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), the Commission (Eurostat) shall notify the Member States concerned within 6 months after the end of the period used to assess the 3 % threshold. If the updated shares of employees fall below the respective thresholds referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), the Member States concerned may cease transmitting early estimates as from the reference quarter of the first calendar year following the date of the notification. If the updated shares fall above those thresholds, the Member States concerned shall transmit the early estimates from the first reference quarter of the third calendar year following the date of the notification.