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

Employment costs increase 4.2 percent in past 12 months

Compensation costs in private industry rose 4.2 percent in the year ended March 2001, compared with increases of 4.6 percent in March 2000 and 3.0 percent in March 1999.

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

Wages and salaries rose 3.8 percent for the year ended March 2001, after increasing 4.2 percent in the year ended March 2000.

Benefit costs for private industry workers increased 5.0 percent for the year ended in March 2001, following an increase of 5.5 percent in March 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—March 2001," news release USDL 01-113.