Compensation For U.S. Workers Rises 1%

ByJohn S. McClenahen From June to September this year, total compensation costs -- including wages, salaries and employer costs of benefits -- for U.S. civilian workers rose 1%, just slightly faster than the 0.9% rate from March to June, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Oct. 30. Wages and salaries rose 0.7% between June and September, compared with 0.6% from March to June, and benefits costs increased 1.5% between June and September, compared with 1.4% from March to June. Within the private sector of the U.S. economy, a category that does not include state and local government workers, compensation costs rose 1% from June to September, the same rate as for the entire civilian workforce. However, for the three months wages and salaries increased at a faster pace in the private sector -- 0.9% versus 0.7% -- and benefit costs at a lower rate -- 1.4% versus 1.5% -- than the rates for the total civilian workforce.