September 2010 Employment Cost Index

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending September 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.3 percent while benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent.

Civilian Workers

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2010. In September 2009, the increase was 1.5 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.5 percent for the current 12-month period, the same as for the 12-month period ending in September 2009. Benefit costs accelerated to 2.7 percent, up from a 1.6 percent increase for the 12-month period ending September 2009.

Private Industry Workers

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2010, higher than the 1.2 percent increase for the 12-month period ending September 2009. The wage and salary series increased 1.6 percent for the current 12-month period. The change for the period ending September 2009 was 1.4 percent. The cost of benefits increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2010, higher than the September 2009 increase of 1.1 percent. Employer costs for health benefits rose 4.8 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2010. In September 2009, the 12-month percent change was 4.7 percent.

Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending September 2010 ranged from 1.4 percent for service occupations to 2.5 percent for production, transportation, and material moving occupations.

Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the current 12-month period ranged from 1.1 percent for leisure and hospitality to 2.9 percent for manufacturing.

State and Local Government Workers

Compensation cost increases for State and local government workers decelerated to 1.7 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2010, down from 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2009. Prior to this quarter, published values for this series, which began in June 1982, ranged from 1.8 percent in June 2010 to 9.6 percent in June 1982. The slowdown in compensation was due to wages and salaries, which increased 1.1 percent. Prior published values for this series, which also began in June 1982, ranged from 1.4 percent in June 2010 to 8.5 percent in June 1982. Benefit costs increased 2.7 percent. Prior published values for this series, which began in June 1990, ranged from 1.2 percent in December 1997 to 8.3 percent in June 1990.

BLS news releases, including the ECI, are available through an e-mail subscription service at: www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm.

3-month, seasonally 12-month, not seasonally Category adjusted adjusted Jun. Sep. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. 2010 2010 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 CIVILIAN WORKERS(1) Compensation(2) 0.5 0.4 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9 Wages and salaries 0.4 0.3 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 Benefits 0.6 0.6 1.6 1.5 2.2 2.5 2.7

(1) Includes private industry and State and local government. (2) Includes wages and salaries and benefits.