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Handbook of Methods Employment Cost Index Overview

Employment Cost Index: Overview

Note: The former National Compensation Survey (NCS) Handbook of Methods chapter has been divided into three new chapters: Employment Cost Index (ECI), Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), and Employee Benefits (EBS). These chapters cover each survey in more detail and this archive is kept for reference.

The National Compensation Survey (NCS) is an establishment-based survey that provides comprehensive measures of (1) employer costs for employee compensation, including wages and salaries, and benefits, (2) compensation trends, and (3) the incidence of employer-sponsored benefits among workers. The NCS also collects data and produces estimates on the provisions of selected employer-sponsored benefit plans.

Quick Facts: Employment Cost Index
Subject areas Benefits, Pay
Key measures
  • Employment Cost Index (ECI)
  • Incidence and provision of employee benefits
  • Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC)
How the data are obtained Government agencies, Survey of businesses
Classification Industry, Occupation
Periodicity of data availability Annual, Quarterly
Geographic detail Census region, National
Scope Private sector, State and local government
Key products
Program webpage
Last Modified Date: December 15, 2017