March 2018 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 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in March 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.9 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.7 percent. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)

Civilian Workers

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018 compared with a compensation costs increase of 2.4 percent in March 2017. Wages and salaries increased 2.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018 and increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2017. Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018. In March 2017, the increase was 2.2 percent. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Private Industry Workers

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.8 percent over the year, a larger increase than the 2.3-percent increase in March 2017. Wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent for the current 12-month period and increased 2.6 percent in March 2017. The cost of benefits rose 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018 and increased 1.9 percent in March 2017. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018. (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 March 2018 ranged from 2.6 percent for both management, professional, and related occupations and natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations to 3.3 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 March 2018 ranged from 2.3 percent for education and health services to 3.3 percent for financial activities. (See table 5.)

State and Local Government

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018. In March 2017, the increase was 2.6 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018, compared with 2.2 percent a year ago. Benefit costs increased 3.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018. The prior year’s increase was 3.1 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)

Seasonal Factors and Updated Layout

The 2018 seasonal factors for directly adjusted series and revised seasonally adjusted series for the past five years were released today, see www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/ectsfact.htm.

With the July 31, 2018 release, the file format of tables 1-13 will be modified to improve usablity. The updated layout is available for review at www.bls.gov/ect/eci_table_changes_June_2018.htm.

Category 3-month, 12-month, seasonally adjusted not seasonally adjusted Dec. Mar. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar. 2017 2018 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018

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.

The Employment Cost Index for June 2018 is scheduled for release on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

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

For videos and information graphics explaining the Employment Cost Index and how it is used, see www.bls.gov/eci/videos.htm.