January 29, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Total compensation package up 3.4 percent in 1998

Compensation costs for civilian workers were up 3.4 percent for the year ended in December 1998. Wages and salaries were up 3.7 percent; benefit costs rose 2.6 percent.

 

[Chart data—TXT]

Compensation costs in private industry rose 3.5 percent in 1998. Private industry wages and salaries were up 3.9 percent over the 12 months ending in December; benefits were up 2.4 percent.

In state and local governments, the over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 3.1 percent, a raise less than that recorded in private industry. Benefit costs rose 3.0 percent for State and local governments in 1998. The total compensation package for public-sector workers rose 3.0 percent over the year.

These data are a product of the BLS Employment Cost Trends program.  Additional information is available from USDL 99-24,  Employment Cost Index—December 1998."