September 26, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Financial sector had biggest raise in 2000

The largest over-the-year percentage pay increase in the private sector was registered in the finance, insurance, and real estate industry (9.1 percent) in 2000. The next largest were in manufacturing and services (6.8 percent each), followed by mining (6.4 percent). 

[Chart data—TXT]

The smallest pay gain in 2000 among the major private industry divisions occurred in the transportation, communications, and public utilities industry (4.4 percent). The annual pay increase for the public sector, which includes Federal, state, and local government, was 4.1 percent.

The BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program produced these data. Pay data presented here are for all workers covered by State and Federal unemployment insurance programs. Data for 2000 are preliminary and subject to revision. Find more information on pay in 2000 in "Average Annual Pay By State and Industry, 2000," news release USDL 01-295.