For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, September 16, 2021			        USDL-21-1647

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 2021
			
Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $38.91 per hour worked in
June 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wage and salary costs averaged
$26.85 per hour worked or 69.0 percent of total compensation, while benefit costs were $12.06 or
31.0 percent of total compensation. The average cost for health insurance benefits was $3.09 per
hour worked or 8.0 percent of total compensation. (See table 1.)

State and local government worker compensation costs for employers averaged $53.59 per hour worked
in June 2021. Wage and salary costs averaged $33.09 and accounted for 61.7 percent of employer
costs, while benefit costs averaged $20.50 and accounted for 38.3 percent. The average cost of
health insurance benefits was $6.10 per hour worked and accounted for 11.4 percent of total
compensation in June 2021. (See table 1.)

Private industry worker compensation costs for employers averaged $36.64 per hour worked in June
2021. Wage and salary costs averaged $25.89 and accounted for 70.6 percent of employer costs,
while benefit costs averaged $10.76 and accounted for 29.4 percent. (See table 1.) 

Insurance costs in private industry highlights

The average cost of health insurance benefits was $2.63 per hour worked and accounted for 7.2
percent of total compensation in June 2021. Highlighted health insurance estimates are available
through the database query tool at www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/data.htm.

Occupational group
Among occupational groups, health insurance costs ranged from $1.06 per hour worked (5.8 percent
of total compensation) for service occupations to $4.10 (6.6 percent of total compensation) for
management, professional, and related occupations.

Bargaining unit status (union and nonunion)
Health insurance cost employers $2.31 (6.5 percent of total compensation) for nonunion workers and
$6.42 per hour worked (12.6 percent) for union workers.

Industry group
Among major industry groups, health insurance costs ranged from $0.67 per hour worked (4.1 percent
of total compensation) in leisure and hospitality to $4.53 (7.9 percent) in information.

Establishment employment size
Health insurance costs by establishment employment size ranged from $1.66 per employee hour worked
(5.6 percent of total compensation) in the smallest establishments (1-49 workers) to $4.62
(8.5 percent) in the largest establishments (500 workers or more).

Census division
Among census divisions, health insurance costs ranged from $1.88 (5.9 percent of total compensation)
in West South Central to $3.10 per employee hour worked (7.1 percent) in the Pacific.

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

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|               Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on June 2021 ECEC Data                     |
|The Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) reference date was June 12, 2021.            |
|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/home.htm.  |
|_________________________________________________________________________________________________|