Data Collection

The National Compensation Survey (NCS) provides comprehensive measures of occupational earnings, compensation cost trends (ECI, ECEC), benefit incidence, and detailed benefit provisions (EBS). These statistics are available for select metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, regions, and the Nation.

BLS field economists visit establishments across the country and ask a series of questions. For example:

• What is the primary business activity of the establishment?
• What types of occupations does the establishment employ?
• How many people are in each occupation and what are they paid?
• What types of benefits do the employees receive?
• How many hours do the employees work?
• What are the duties and responsibilities of the job?

Wages

During this interview, the field economist is able to obtain wage data by occupation and work level. Work levels are determined using a "point factor leveling" process. This procedure incorporates 4 occupational leveling factors to determine the work level. The factors are:

Leveling information may be obtained either during the interview or from a formal job description received from the respondent. The type of data outlined above allows NCS to publish occupational wage statistics for localities, census divisions, and the Nation.

Benefits

NCS also collects data on benefit incidence (the percentage of workers with access to and participation in employer provided benefit plans) and detailed benefit provisions. Availability, plan provision, and employee cost (i.e., required employee premiums for insurance or required contributions) data are published for various benefit categories. In addition, the NCS program collects limited data on emerging (or nontraditional) benefits such as educational assistance, employee wellness, and adoption assistance programs; travel accident and long-term care insurance; supplemental unemployment, flexible workplace, and fitness center benefits; and child care and commuting subsidies.

NCS tracks changes over time in compensation costs in the ECI as well as cost levels information (in the form of dollars and cents cost and percent of total compensation) in the ECEC for total compensation, wages and salaries, and benefits. (Wages and salaries plus benefits make up total compensation). Data for wages and salaries include hourly straight-time earnings before payroll deductions as well as production bonuses, incentive earnings, commission payments, and cost-of-living adjustments. There are 5 categories of benefits for which incidence/participation, provisions, and cost data are collected. They are:

• Paid leave - vacations, holidays, personal, funeral, jury duty, military, family, and sick leave
• Insurance - life, health, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• Retirement - defined benefit (pensions) and defined contribution
• Legally required benefits - Social Security, federal unemployment insurance, state unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation
• Supplemental pay - premium pay (overtime, weekend, or holiday pay), shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses.

Last Modified Date: November 16, 2006