January 31, 2018

Civilian Workers  

The U.S. Bureau of labour Statistics reported that compensation cost for civilian workers increased 0.6% for the 3-month period ending in December 2017. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.5%, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.5%. For the 12-month period ending in December 2017, compensation cost for civilian workers increased 2.6%, compare that to a 2.2% increase for the 2016 period. Wages and salaries increased 2.5 percent for the 12- month period ending in December 2017 and increased 2.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2016. Benefits increased in line with wages and salaries for the 12-month 2017 period. This is up from the 2.1% increase recorded in 12-month 2016.

 Private Industry Workers 

Compensation cost for private industry workers inched up marginally higher than that of  civilian worker for 2017. Private sector compensation increase by 2.6% in 2017, .4% higher than the 2.2% increase recorded in 2016. Wages and salaries increased 2.8% for the current 12-month period, a larger increase than the December 2016 increase of 2.3%. The cost of benefits rose 2.3% for the 12-month period ending in December 2017, higher than the 1.8% increase in December 2016.

 Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending in December 2017 ranged from 2.4% for management, professional, and related occupations to 3.1% for production, transportation, and material moving occupations. Also for industries the report classified as “supersectors”, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period ending in December 2017 ranged from 2.0% for education and health services and financial activities to 3.6% for leisure and hospitality.

Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.1% for the 12-month period ending in December 2017.