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

Employment costs up 4.1 percent

Compensation costs for civilian workers rose 4.1 percent in the year ended September 2001, compared to an increase of 4.3 percent for the year ended in September 2000.

12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, civilian workers
[Chart data—TXT]

Civilian worker wages and salaries rose 3.6 percent for the year ended September 2001, after increasing 4.0 percent in the year ended September 2000.

Benefit costs for civilian workers increased 5.1 percent for the year ended in September 2001, not much different from the increase of 5.3 percent in the previous year.

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—September 2001," news release USDL 01-369.