June 2012 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 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending June 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.4 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent.

Civilian Workers

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.7 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2012. In June 2011 the increase was 2.2 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.7 percent for the current 12-month period, essentially unchanged from a year ago when wages and salaries increased 1.6 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.1 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2012 down from the June 2011 increase, which was 3.6 percent.

Private Industry Workers

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.8 percent over the year. In June 2011 the increase was 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.8 percent for the current 12-month period. The increase for the 12-month period ending June 2011 was 1.7 percent. The increase in the cost of benefits was 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2012, down from the June 2011 increase of 4.0 percent. Employer costs for health benefits decelerated over the year to a 2.4 percent increase, down from the June 2011 increase of 3.6 percent.

Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending June 2012 ranged from 1.4 percent for production, transportation, and material moving occupations to 2.3 percent for sales and office occupations.

Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the current 12-month period ranged from 1.2 percent for both leisure and hospitality and manufacturing to 3.7 percent for information.

State and Local Government Workers

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 1.6 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2012, essentially unchanged from the June 2011 increase of 1.7 percent. Values for this series—which began in June 1982—have ranged from 1.3 percent to 9.6 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2012. A year earlier the increase was 1.2 percent. Prior values for this series, which also began in June 1982, ranged from 1.0 percent to 8.5 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.7 percent in June 2012. In June 2011 the increase was 3.0 percent. Prior values for this series, which began in June 1990, ranged from 1.2 percent to 8.3 percent.

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Category 3-month, 12-month, seasonally adjusted not seasonally adjusted Mar. June June Sep. Dec. Mar. June 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012

CIVILIAN WORKERS[1]

PRIVATE INDUSTRY

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[1] Includes private industry and State and local government. [2] Includes wages and salaries and benefits.