December 2014 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 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending December 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.5 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent.

Civilian Workers

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014. In December 2013, the increase in compensation costs was 2.0 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 1.9-percent increase in December 2013. Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 2.2-percent increase for the 12-month period ending December 2013. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Private Industry Workers

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.3 percent over the year. In December 2013 the increase was 2.0 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.2 percent for the current 12-month period ending December 2014, about the same as the December 2013 increase of 2.1 percent. The cost of benefits rose 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, which was higher than December 2013, when the increase was 1.9 percent. Employer costs for health benefits increased 2.4 percent over the year. The 12-month percent change for December 2013 was an increase of 3.0 percent. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending December 2014 ranged from 1.8 percent for service occupations to 2.6 percent for natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.

Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the current 12-month period ranged from 0.6 percent for other services, except public administration to 5.6 percent for information.

State and Local Government Workers

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 1.9-percent increase for December 2013. Wages and salaries increased 1.6 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, which was higher than the 1.1-percent increase in December 2013. Benefit costs increased 2.9 percent in December 2014. In December 2013, the increase was 3.3 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)

New Seasonal Factors

New seasonal factors for 2015, along with revised seasonally adjusted indexes for the past five years will be available online Tuesday, April 28, 2015.

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Category 3-month, 12-month, seasonally adjusted not seasonally adjusted Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. 2014 2014 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014

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.