Employment Cost Index Summary

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                                  EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX – DECEMBER 2023

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month 
period ending in December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries 
increased 0.9 percent and benefit costs increased 0.7 percent from September 2023. 
(See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 4.2 percent for the 12-month period ending in December
2023 and increased 5.1 percent in December 2022. Wages and salaries increased 4.3 percent for the 12-month
period ending in December 2023 and increased 5.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2022.
Benefit costs increased 3.8 percent over the year and increased 4.9 percent for the 12-month period ending
in December 2022. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 4.1 percent over the year. In December 2022, the
increase was 5.1 percent. Wages and salaries increased 4.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in 
December 2023 and increased 5.1 percent in December 2022. The cost of benefits increased 3.6 percent for the
12-month period ending in December 2023 and increased 4.8 percent in December 2022. Inflation-adjusted 
(constant dollar) compensation costs for private industry increased 0.7 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in December 2023.Inflation-adjusted wages and salaries increased 0.9 percent for the 12 months 
ending December 2023. Inflation-adjusted benefit costs in the private sector increased 0.2 percent over
that same period. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Within the private industry, compensation costs increased 4.5 percent for union workers and 4.0 percent for 
non-union workers for the 12-month period ending in December 2023. Wages and salaries increased 5.4 percent 
for union workers and 4.2 percent for non-union workers for the 12-month period ending in December 2023. 
Benefit costs increased 3.4 percent for union workers and 3.6 percent for non-union workers for the period 
ending in December 2023. (See tables 6, 10, and 12.)

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 4.6 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in December 2023 and increased 4.8 percent in the 12-month period ending December 2022. Wages and 
salaries increased 4.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2023 and increased 4.7 percent
a year ago. Benefit costs increased 4.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2023. The prior
year’s increase was 5.0 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)