For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, September 17, 2020				       USDL-20-1736

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


			EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION – JUNE 2020
			
Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $38.20 per hour worked in June 2020,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries cost employers $26.17 while benefit
costs were $12.04. The average cost for health insurance benefits was $3.18 per hour worked. (See table 1.)

Private industry worker compensation costs for employers averaged $35.96 per hour worked in June 2020.
Wages and salaries averaged $25.18 and accounted for 70.0 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs
averaged $10.79 and accounted for 30.0 percent. The average cost of health insurance benefits was $2.73 per
hour worked and accounted for 7.6 percent of total compensation in June 2020. (See table 1.) 

State and local government worker compensation costs for employers averaged $52.36 per hour worked in June
2020. Wages and salaries averaged $32.43 and accounted for 61.9 percent of employer costs, while benefit
costs averaged $19.93 and accounted for 38.1 percent. The average cost of health insurance benefits was
$6.01 per hour worked and accounted for 11.5 percent of total compensation in June 2020. (See table 1.)


Health insurance costs in private industry highlights:

* Among occupational groups, health insurance costs ranged between $1.25 per hour worked (7.0 percent of
  total compensation) for service occupations and $4.13 (6.7 percent of total compensation) for management,
  professional, and related occupations.

* Health insurance cost employers $2.38 (6.8 percent of total compensation) for nonunion workers and $6.58
  per hour worked (13.3 percent) for union workers. 

* Among major industry groups, health insurance costs ranged between $0.78 per hour worked (4.9 percent of
  total compensation) in leisure and hospitality and $4.63 (8.1 percent) in information.

* Health insurance costs by establishment employment size ranged between $1.69 per employee hour worked (5.9
  percent of total compensation) in the smallest establishments (1-49 workers) and $4.70 (9.0 percent) in
  the largest establishments (500 workers or more).

* Among census divisions, health insurance costs ranged between $1.96 (6.2 percent of total compensation) in
  West South Central and $3.32 per employee hour worked (7.7 percent) in the Pacific.

Other insurance benefit costs in private industry were $0.04 per employee hour worked (0.1 percent of total
compensation) for life insurance, $0.05 (0.1 percent) for long-term disability, and $0.08 (0.2 percent)
for short-term disability.

Note: Highlighted health insurance estimates are available through the database query tool at
www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/data.htm.
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|		   Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on June 2020 ECEC Data                                   |
|The Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) reference date was June 12, 2020. Response rates for June were|
|comparable with prior releases, and no changes in estimation procedures were necessary. Additional information    |
|is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/employer-costs-for-employee-compensation-covid19-effects-june-2020.htm.       |
|__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|

Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for September 2020 is scheduled to be released on Thursday,
December 17, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).