Dept of Labor Releases June Employment Cost Index

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.5 percent, seasonally 

adjusted, for the 3-month period ending June 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent

of compensation costs) increased 0.4 percent while benefits (which make up the 

remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent.

Civilian Workers 

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.8 percent for the 12-month

period ending June 2010. This was the same as the 12-month period ending in June

2009. Wages and salaries increased 1.6 percent for the current 12-month period, 

compared to a 1.8 percent increase for the 12-month period ending in June 2009.
Benefit costs rose 2.5 percent, up from a 1.8 percent increase for the 12-month

period ending June 2009.

Private Industry Workers
 

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.9 percent for the

12-month period ending June 2010, higher than the 1.5 percent increase for the

12-month period ending June 2009. The wage and salary series increased 1.6 percent

for the current 12-month period, the same as for the period ending June
2009. The cost of benefits increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending

June 2010, higher than the June 2009 increase of 1.3 percent. Employer costs for health benefits
rose 5.0 percent for the 12-month period ending June 2010. In June 2009, the 12-month percent
change was 4.4 percent.

Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry 

the 12-month period ending June 2010 ranged from 1.5 percent for management,

professional, and related occupations to 2.3 percent for sales and office 

occupations. The sales and office increase was primarily due to a 2.9
percent increase among sales and related occupations, which rebounded from 

a 1.6 percent decrease a year earlier. The other component of sales and 

office occupations--office and administrative support--increased
2.0 percent.
 

Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry

workers for the current 12-month period ranged from 1.0 percent for construction

to 2.6 percent for trade, transportation, and utilities.

State and Local Government Workers
 

Compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 1.8 percent

for the 12-month period ending June 2010. Since this series began in June 1982, 

published values ranged from 2.0 percent in March 2010 to 9.6 percent in June 1982.

Wages and salaries increased 1.4 percent. This series also began in June 1982. 

Prior published values ranged from 1.8 in March 2010 to 8.5 percent in June 1982. 

Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent. Prior published values for this series, 

which began in June 1990, ranged from 1.2 percent in December 1997 to 8.3 percent

in June 1990.