BLS announces June employment cost index
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in June 2018, 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 benefit costs (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.9 percent. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
Civilian Workers
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018 compared with a compensation costs increase of 2.4 percent in June 2017. Wages and salaries increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018 and increased 2.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2017. Benefit costs increased 2.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018. In June 2017, the increase was 2.5 percent. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)
Private Industry Workers
Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.9 percent over the year, a larger increase than the 2.4 percent increase in June 2017. Wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018 and increased 2.4 percent in June 2017. The cost of benefits rose 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018 and increased 2.2 percent in June 2017. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)
Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 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 June 2018 ranged from 2.4 percent for management, professional, and related occupations to 3.5 percent for sales and office occupations. (See table 5.)
Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending in June 2018 ranged from 2.2 percent for education and health services to 4.5 percent for information. (See table 5.)
State and Local Government
Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018. In June 2017, the increase was 2.6 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018, compared with 2.1 percent a year ago.
Benefit costs increased 3.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2018. The prior year increase was 3.2 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)
Source: BLS
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