TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL USDL-13-0143
8:30 A.M. (EDT) THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013
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EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX - DECEMBER 2012
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month
period ending December 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries
(which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.3 percent, and benefits (which
make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent.
Civilian Workers
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending
December 2012, essentially unchanged from the December 2011 increase of 2.0 percent. Wages and
salaries increased 1.7 percent for the current 12-month period. In December 2011 the increase was
1.4 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2012, down
from the December 2011 increase, which was 3.2 percent.
Private Industry Workers
Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.9 percent over the year. In December 2011
the increase was 2.2 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.7 percent for the current 12-month period,
essentially unchanged from the 12-month period ending December 2011, which was 1.6 percent. The
increase in the cost of benefits was 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2012, down
from the December 2011 increase of 3.6 percent. Employer costs for health benefits increased
2.8 percent over the year. In December 2011 the increase was 3.5 percent.
Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the
12-month period ending December 2012 ranged from 1.7 percent for natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations; production, transportation, and material moving occupations; and service
occupations to 2.0 percent for management, professional, and related occupations; and sales and office
occupations.
Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the current
12-month period ranged from 1.1 percent for leisure and hospitality to 3.9 percent for information.
State and Local Government Workers
Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month
period ending December 2012, higher than the December 2011 increase of 1.3 percent. Values for this
series—which began in June 1982—have ranged from 1.3 percent to 9.6 percent. Wages and salaries
increased 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2012, essentially unchanged from a year
earlier when the increase was 1.0 percent. Prior values for this series, which also began in June 1982,
ranged from 1.0 percent to 8.5 percent. Benefit costs increased 3.4 percent in December 2012, up from
the December 2011 increase of 2.1 percent.
________________________
The Employment Cost Index for March 2013 is scheduled to be released on
Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request—
Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
New seasonal factors for 2013, along with revised seasonally adjusted indexes for the past five years
will be available online Friday, April 26, 2013.
BLS news releases, including the ECI, are available through an e-mail subscription service at:
www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm.
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Table A. Major series of the Employment Cost Index
(Percent change)
Category 3-month, 12-month,
seasonally adjusted not seasonally adjusted
Sep. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec.
2012 2012 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012
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CIVILIAN WORKERS[1]
Compensation[2] 0.4 0.5 2.0 1.9 1.7 2.0 1.9
Wages and salaries 0.3 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
Benefits 0.8 0.6 3.2 2.7 2.1 2.6 2.5
PRIVATE INDUSTRY
Compensation[2] 0.4 0.5 2.2 2.1 1.8 2.0 1.9
Wages and salaries 0.4 0.3 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7
Benefits 0.7 0.6 3.6 2.8 1.9 2.3 2.2
STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Compensation[2] 0.3 0.4 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.9
Wages and salaries 0.2 0.3 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1
Benefits 0.8 0.6 2.1 2.3 2.7 3.2 3.4
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[1] Includes private industry and State and local government.
[2] Includes wages and salaries and benefits.
