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May 1993

Cost of employee compensation in public and private sectors

Bradley R. Braden, Stephanie L. Hyland

Much of the variation in the cost of compensation in the two sectors is due to differences in the occupational mix and types of compensation packages provided. This article highlights differences in the industry and occupational mix that influence average compensation costs in private industry and State and local governments, and provides data on the hourly cost of compensation for specific groups of workers in each sector.

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