Employment Cost Index Summary

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                                EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX – SEPTEMBER 2023

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month
period ending in September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries
increased 1.2 percent and benefit costs increased 0.9 percent from June 2023. (See tables A, 1, 2, 
and 3.)

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 4.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in 
September 2023 and increased 5.0 percent in September 2022. Wages and salaries increased 4.6 percent 
for the 12-month period ending in September 2023 and increased 5.1 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in September 2022. Benefit costs increased 4.1 percent over the year and increased 4.9 percent 
for the 12-month period ending in September 2022. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 4.3 percent over the year. In September 2022, 
the increase was 5.2 percent. Wages and salaries increased 4.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in 
September 2023 and increased 5.2 percent in September 2022. The cost of benefits increased 3.9 percent 
for the 12-month period ending in September 2023 and increased 5.0 percent in September 2022. Inflation-
adjusted (constant dollar) compensation costs for private industry increased 0.6 percent for the 
12-month period ending in September 2023. Inflation-adjusted wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent 
for the 12 months ending September 2023. Inflation-adjusted benefit costs in the private sector 
increased 0.2 percent over that same period. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)

Among private industry occupational groups, compensation cost increases for the 12-month period ending 
in September 2023 ranged from 3.9 percent for production, transportation, and material moving 
occupations to 4.5 percent for service occupations. Within industry supersectors, compensation cost 
increases ranged from 3.7 percent for manufacturing to 4.9 percent for both education and health 
services and for other services, except public administration. (See table 5.)

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 4.8 percent for the 12-month period 
ending in September 2023, compared with an increase of 4.6 percent in September 2022. Wages and salaries 
increased 4.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2023 and increased 4.4 percent a year 
ago. Benefit costs increased 4.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2023. The prior 
year increase was 5.0 percent. (See tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)