July 27, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Employment costs in private industry rise 4.0 percent over the year

Compensation costs in private industry rose 4.0 percent in the year ended June 2001, compared with increases of 4.6 percent in June 2000 and 3.3 percent in June 1999.

12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, private industry workers, not seasonally adjusted, June 1996-June 2001
[Chart data—TXT]

Wages and salaries rose 3.8 percent for the year ended June 2001, after increasing 4.1 percent in the year ended June 2000.

Benefit costs for private industry workers increased 4.8 percent for the year ended in June 2001, moderating from the increase of 5.7 percent in June 2000.

These data are from the BLS Employment Cost Trends program. Compensation costs (also known as employment costs) include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Learn more in "Employment Cost Index—June 2001," news release USDL 01-236.