Employment costs for civilian workers increased 0.4%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
Wages and salaries (which make up about 70% of the total compensation costs) increased 0.3% while benefits (which make up the remaining 30% of the total compensation cost) increased 0.6%.
For the 12-month period ending September 2010, compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.9%. In September 2009, the increase was 1.5%. Wages and salaries increased 1.5% for the current 12-month period, the same as for the 12-month period ending in September 2009. Benefit costs accelerated to 2.7%, up from a 1.6% increase for the 12-month period ending September 2009.
Private Industry Workers
Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2% for the 12-month period ending September 2010, higher than the 1.2% increase for the 12-month period ending September 2009. The wage and salary series increased 1.6% for the current 12-month period.
The change for the period ending September 2009 was 1.4%. The cost of benefits increased 2.8% for the 12-month period ending September 2010, higher than the September 2009 increase of 1.1%. Employer costs for health benefits rose 4.8% for the 12-month period ending September 2010. In September 2009, the 12-month percent change was 4.7%.
