Employment Cost Index: PDF

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 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent and benefit costs increased 1.2 percent from December 2024. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 3.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 4.2 percent in March 2024. Wages and salaries increased 3.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 4.4 percent in March 2024. Benefit costs increased 3.8 for the 12-month period ending in March 2025. The prior year’s increase was 3.7 percent. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.4 percent over the year. In March 2024, the increase was 4.1 percent. Wages and salaries increased 3.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 4.3 percent in March 2024. The cost of benefits increased 3.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 3.6 percent in March 2024. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) wages and salaries increased 1.0 percent for the 12 months ending March 2025. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Within private industry by bargaining status, compensation costs increased 4.6 percent for union workers and 3.3 percent for non-union workers for the 12-month period ending in March 2025. Wages and salaries increased 4.5 percent for union workers and 3.2 percent for non-union workers for the 12-month period ending in March 2025. Benefit costs increased 4.6 percent for union workers and 3.4 percent for non-union workers for the period ending in March 2025. (See tables 6, 10, and 12.)

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 4.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and increased 4.8 percent in March 2024. Wages and salaries increased 4.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025 and 5.0 percent in March 2024. Benefit costs increased 4.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2025. The prior year’s increase was 4.5 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)

Rounding Changes to Employment Cost Index (ECI) Estimates

Effective with the release of June 2025 ECI data on July 31, 2025, BLS will publish index levels to three decimal places. Percent changes based on these more precise indexes will continue to be published to one decimal place. For more information, see www.bls.gov/eci/notices/2024/changes-to-index-rounding.htm.