Employment Cost Index Summary

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                                    EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX – MARCH 2024

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period
ending in March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries increased 1.1
percent and benefit costs increased 1.1 percent from December 2023. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 4.2 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2024
and increased 4.8 percent in March 2023. Wages and salaries increased 4.4 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in March 2024 and increased 5.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2023. Benefit costs
increased 3.7 percent over the year and increased 4.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2023.
(See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 4.1 percent over the year. In March 2023, the 
increase was 4.8 percent. Wages and salaries increased 4.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in March
2024 and increased 5.1 percent in March 2023. The cost of benefits increased 3.6 percent for the 12-month 
period ending in March 2024 and increased 4.3 percent in March 2023. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) 
compensation costs for private industry workers increased 0.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in 
March 2024. Inflation-adjusted wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent for the 12 months ending March 
2024. Inflation-adjusted benefit costs in the private sector increased 0.1 percent over that same period. 
(See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Within private industry by bargaining status, compensation costs increased 5.3 percent for union workers 
and 3.9 percent for nonunion workers for the 12-month period ending in March 2024. Wages and salaries 
increased 6.3 percent for union workers and 4.1 percent for nonunion workers for the 12-month period 
ending in March 2024. Benefit costs increased 3.8 percent for union workers and 3.6 percent for nonunion 
workers for the period ending in March 2024.(See tables 6, 10, and 12.)

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 4.8 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in March 2024, and increased 4.9 percent in the period ending in March 2023. Wages and salaries 
increased 5.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2024 and increased 4.7 percent a year ago. 
Benefit costs increased 4.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2024. The prior year increase
was 5.0 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)