September 2017 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 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.7 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.8 percent. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)

Civilian Workers

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017. In September 2016, compensation costs increased 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017 and increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2016. Benefit costs increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017. In September 2016, the increase was 2.3 percent. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Hurricanes Harvey and Irma had minimal impact on data collection in the September 2017 reference period. For further information on how recent hurricanes impacted survey response, see www.bls.gov/bls/hurricanes-harvey-irma-maria.htm.

Private Industry Workers

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.5 percent over the year. In September 2016, the increase was 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.6 percent for the current 12-month period. In September 2016, the increase was 2.4 percent. The cost of benefits rose 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017, higher than the 1.8 percent increase in September 2016. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017. (For further information, see www.bls.gov/web/eci/echealth.pdf.)

Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending in September 2017 ranged from 2.3 percent for management, professional, and related occupations to 3.2 percent for production, transportation, and material moving occupations. (See table 5.)

Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending in September 2017 ranged from 1.9 percent for education and health services to 3.4 percent for leisure and hospitality. (See table 5.)

State and Local Government

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017. In September 2016, the increase was 2.6 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017, the same as the September 2016 increase. Benefit costs increased 3.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017, less than the prior year’s increase of 3.7 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)

Category 3-month, 12-month, seasonally adjusted not seasonally adjusted June Sept. Sept. Dec. Mar. June Sept. 2017 2017 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017

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. [2] Includes wages and salaries and benefits.

The Employment Cost Index for December 2017 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

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