Employer Costs for Employee Compensation News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, February 24, 2026					    USDL-26-0287

Technical information:	(202) 691-6199  *  ncsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/ecec
Media contact:		(202) 691-5902  *  pressoffice@bls.gov


                       EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION - SEPTEMBER 2025

Employer costs for private industry workers averaged $32.37 per hour worked for wages and salaries 
and $13.68 for benefits in September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 
Employer costs for state and local government workers averaged $40.24 per hour worked for wages and 
salaries and $25.04 for benefits.

Due to the compressed release schedule following the 2025 lapse in appropriations, the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics will update the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) database through September 
2025 but will forgo a detailed news release. The ECEC database can be found at www.bls.gov/ecec/data.htm. 
Links to updated files and tables can be found at www.bls.gov/web/ecec.supp.toc.htm. Interactive chart 
data have been updated at www.bls.gov/charts/employer-costs-for-employee-compensation/.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
				 Federal Government Shutdown

Publication of the September 2025 Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) news release was 
delayed due to the lapse in federal appropriations. Collection of September data had not been completed 
prior to the federal government shutdown. After funding had been restored, any data self-reported by 
establishments during the shutdown were reviewed and included; however, survey response rates decreased 
in September. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for December 2025 is scheduled to be released on 
Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).