Employee compensation, wages plus benefits, rose at the fastest pace since the recession.

The BLS Employment Compensation Index shows a surge in wages and benefits for the third quarter of 2018.

  • Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2018.
  • Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.9 percent.
  • Benefit costs (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.4 percent from June 2018.?
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    Civilian Workers

  • Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 compared with a compensation costs increase of 2.5 percent in September 2017.
  • Wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 and increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017.
  • Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018. In September 2017, the increase was 2.4 percent.
  • Civilian Workers

  • Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 compared with a compensation costs increase of 2.5 percent in September 2017.
  • Wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 and increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017.
  • Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018. In September 2017, the increase was 2.4 percent.
  •  

    Private Industry Workers

  • Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.9 percent over the year and increased 2.5 percent in September 2017.
  • Wages and salaries increased 3.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 and increased 2.6 percent in September 2017.
  • The cost of benefits rose 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2018 and increased 2.4 percent in September 2017.
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