14

Table 7. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for private industry workers by bargaining status,
region, and area

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
ini i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Bargaining status, region, and area sep. | June | Sep.
1998 1999 1999 Sep. June Sep. Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Bargaining status
Union .. 132.4 134.7 135.7 1.3 0.7 3.2 3.4 25
Blue-collar occupations 129.9 132.5 133.6 V4 1.0 B 34 34 28
Goods-producing industries" . 131.0 | 1338 | 134.9 1.2 14 8 3.5 3.4 3.0
Service-producing industries? 134.1 | 135.8 | 136.8 14 3 7 28 27 2.0
Manufacturing ..... 132.2 134.7 135.8 14 8B 8 3.4 3.3 27
Blue-collar occupations .. 131.4 134.1 135.1 ww 8B 7 3.0 32 28
Nonmanufacturing 132.4 134.6 135.6 1.2 7 7 3.0 29 24
Nonunion .. 137.4 140.7 142.0 1.3 1.2 9 44 37 3.3
Blue-collar occupations . 134.0 137.5 138.7 8 1.0 a 3.3 3.5 3.5
Goods-producing industriest 135.7 | 138.8 | 140.0 7 7 x) 3.4 3.0 3.2
Service-producing industries? 137.9 141.3 142.6 15 1.4 2 48 40 3.4
Manufacturing .. 137.3 140.5 141.7 8&8 8 a 3.5 3.2 3.2
Blue-collar occupations .. 136.2 | 139.2 140.5 8 5 a 3.2 3.0 3.2
Nonmanufacturing 137.1 140.5 141.8 1.3 1.4 a 46 3.8 3.4
Region?
Northeast 135.4 | 138.2 | 139.9 1.2 8 1.2 3.6 3.3 3.3
South 136.5 139.4 140.2 1.2 14 6 45 3.3 27
Midwest .. 137.5 141.0 142.4 14 15 1.0 4.0 37 3.6
West 136.7 140.2 141.3 1.6 14 8 5.0 42 34
Area
Metropolitan .. 136.9 139.9 141.2 1.3 12 2 44 36 3.1
Other 134.7 138.4 139.8 1.0 zs) 1.0 3.3 3.7 3.8
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; Wisconsin; and West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
indystries. Wyoming.
The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, NOTE: The indexes for these series are not strictly comparable to those
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, _for the aggregate, occupation, and industry series.

and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,


Table 1. Employment Cost Index for total com

occupational group

(Seasonally adjusted data)

pensation’, wages and salaries, and benefit costs by industry and

Indexes (June
989-100) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
June Sep. Dec, Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.
1999 1999 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers . 141.7 142.9 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.9 07 0.4 Ww 0.8
State and local government 141.5 142.6 7 7 7 7 7 6 8 8
Private industry .... 141.8 143.0 V1 7 1.0 7 1.2 8
Industry
Goods producing? 139.8 | 141.0 4 7 8 7 5 7 6 )
Construction? 136.6 137.5 5 7 1.2 4 1.2 1.0 5 7
Manufacturing .. 140.7 142.0 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 a)
Durables .. 141.0 | 142.2 6 7 6 7 6 6 7 9
Nondurables 140.3 141.6 7 8 6 8 5 8 6 a
Service producing? .. 142.7 143.9 1.4 7 ag 1.2 8 a 14 8
Transportation and pul 141.0 141.8 11 9 1.2 a) 7 0 14 6
Wholesale trade? 144.4 146.3 6 1.6 6 1.7 1.6 +3 1.3 1.3
Retail trade ... 139.0 139.6 ze) a 8 1.0 2 7 1.5 A
Finance, insurance, and real
estate3.6 145.8 147.6 34 1.6 1.2 1.9 V1 “7 3.0 1.2
Services 144.7 146.0 1.2 5 8 5 8 a
Nonmanufacturing ... 142.0 143.2 14 8 9 11 9 2 1.3 8
Occupational group
White collar 144.1 145.5 1.4 7 1.0 14 9 0 1.3 1.0
Blue collar 138.1 139.3 7 5 8 7 7 7 8 9
Service 140.4 140.5 8 9 7 8 5 11 9 A
WAGES AND SALARIES
Civilian workers ... 139.9 141.1 141 9 9 14 7 5 1.2 9
State and local government 140.4 141.7 7 7 7 7 8 6 1.0 3
Private industry ... 139.8 140.9 Ww 9 1.0 1.2 7 1.2 8
Industry
Goods producing? .. 137.3 | 138.5 5 141 9 8 7 8 7 x)
Construction? 131.7 132.7 6 1.0 1.3 2 1.0 1.2 5 8
Manufacturing! 139.0 140.2 7 11 7 1.0 6 8&8 8 a)
Durables® .. 139.1 140.4 5 14 8 1.0 7 7 a) 9
Nondurables .. 138.6 139.8 1.0 9 6 1.0 7 6 6 Qa
Service producing$ .. 140.8 | 142.0 1.4 9 9 14 7 3 14 9
Transportation and public utilities’ 137.0 137.5 ze) 5 8 1.0 6 a 1.3 4
Wholesale trade3 142.1 144.3 5 1.9 4 1.8 15 74 a 15
Retail trade ..... 138.2 138.6 1.0 8 9 1.3 a 9 14 3
Finance, insurance, and real
estate3.6 142.4 144.5 3.3 15 17 24 1.2 “1.9 3.8 1.5
Services .. 143.3 144.4 13 7 cS) Ww 7 9 8
Nonmanufacturing 139.7 140.8 14 8 1.0 12 1.0 2 13 8

‘See footnotes at end of table.


18

estimates (excluding seasonally adjusted series) will be available on the Internet site
(http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) shortly after publication of the news release.

When comparing data by bargaining status, it is important to note that differences may be due to factors
other than bargaining status, such as occupational and industry mix. For example, union occupations tend to
be concentrated in blue-collar occupations within manufacturing industries. Thus, differences between blue-
collar and white-collar pay or differences in manufacturing versus nonmanufacturing industries could explain
such differences.

More detailed information on the ECI is available in several sources. These include annual bulletins--
Employment Cost Indexes and Levels, 1975-97, (Bulletin 2504), a chapter in the BLS Handbook of Methods
(Bulletin 2490), “National Compensation Measures," and several articles published in the Monthly Labor
Review and Compensation and Working Conditions. The annual bulletins are available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690, (312) 353-1880. Reprints of the
articles and other descriptive pieces are available upon request by calling (202) 606-6199 or sending email to
(gcltinfo@bls.gov). Current and historical data are available at the web site:

(http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice
phone: (202) 606-7828, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone: (202) 606-5897, TDD
Message Referral Phone Number: 1-800-326-2577.


10

Table 4. Employment Cost Index for total compensation’ for private industry workers, by bargaining status,

region, and area

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
ini i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—

Bargaining status, region, and area Sep. June Sep.
i998 | 1999 | 1999 | Sep. | June | Sep. | Sep. | June | Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999

Bargaining status
Union .. 136.8 139.0 140.2 141 07 0.9 27 27 25
Blue-collar occupations .. 134.6 136.7 137.8 1.0 8 8 26 26 24
Goods-producing industries? 135.6 138.2 139.2 1.0 14 7 25 29 27
Service-producing industries? 138.0 | 139.7 | 141.0 1.3 ) 3.0 26 22
Manufacturing ... 136.0 | 138.1 139.1 1.0 8 7 23 2.6 2.3
Blue-collar occupations 135.5 137.5 138.5, 1.0 7 7 2.2 25 2.2
Nonmanufacturing ... 136.9 139.2 140.3 1.2 8 8 3.0 29 25
Nonunion 139.3 142.5 143.8 Ww 1.2 9 40 3.4 3.2
Blue-cc pe 135.5 139.0 140.3 6 1.0 eo] 28 3.2 35
Goods-producing industries? 137.7 | 1405 | 141.8 6 6 x) 28 26 3.0
Service-producing industries? 139.7 143.0 144.4 1.2 1.3 1.0 45 3.6 3.4
Manufacturing ... 138.9 141.7 143.0 7 7 2 28 27 3.0
Blue-collar occupations 137.4 140.2 141.6 5 5 1.0 24 26 34
Nonmanufacturing ... 139.1 142.4 | 143.8 1.2 13 1.0 43 36 3.4
Region4
Northeast 138.7 141.5 143.2 1.2 7 1.2 35 3.3 3.2
South ... 137.6 140.7 141.8 9 1.2 8 3.8 3.2 3.1
Midwest .. 140.9 143.6 145.0 a) 1.3 1.0 3.5 29 29
West .... 138.5 142.1 143.3 14 13 8 45 4.0 3.5
Area

Metropolitan 139.1 142.0 | 143.3 1.2 41 a) 3.9 3.3 3.0
Other .. 138.2 | 141.8 | 143.1 8 ag a) 3.3 3.4 3.5

1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

3 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities;
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service
industries.

4 The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin; and West: Alaska, Arizona, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
‘Wyoming.

NOTE: The indexes for these series are not strictly comparable to those
for the aggregate, occupation, and industry series.


: 7

Table 2, Employment Cost Index for total compensation’ for civilian and State and local government workers by

industry and occupational group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Sep. June Sep.
1998 | 1999 | 1999 | Sep. | June | Sep. | Sep. | June | Sep.
1998 1989 1999 1998 1999 1999
Civilian workers ..... 139.0 141.8 143.3 1.2 1.0 Va 3.7 3.2 3.41
Excluding sales occupations 138.8 141.7 143.2 1.0 ze) 1 3.4 3.1 3.2
Industry
Goods producing? .. 137.2 | 140.0 | 141.2 7 7 9 27 27 29
Manufacturing .. 138.2 140.9 142.1 7 7 g 27 27 28
Service producing 139.6 142.4 | 144.0 1.4 4 11 4.0 3.4 3.2
Services ... 140.8 143.2 145.1 1.3 6 1.3 3.2 3.0 34
Health services 139.1 141.4 142.7 4 6 9 1.8 24 2.6
Hospitals .. 139.4 142.2 143.4 9 6 8 28 29 29
Educational services . 140.2 141.7 144.6 1.8 3 2.0 27 29 3.1
Public administration$ .... 138.9 144.5 142.4 11 5 6 3.6 3.0 25
Nonmanufacturing ... 139.0 141.9 143.4 12 1.0 V1 3.9 3.4 3.2
Occupational group
White collar ... 140.6 | 143.3 | 145.0 14 1.0 1.2 4.0 3.3 3.1
Excluding sales 140.6 | 143.4 | 145.1 1.2 8 12 3.7 3.2 3.2
Professional specialty and technical 140.0 142.2 | 143.9 1.2 6 1.2 341 28 28
Executive, administrative, and managerial 141.7 145.4 147.3 1.4 13 1.3 47 44 4.0
Administrative support, including clerical 140.4 143.4 144.7 8 6 9 3.4 29 34
Blue collar .. 135.3 138.3 139.5 7 a) 9 27 3.0 3.1
Service .... 139.4 142.4 143.1 44 8 5 3.6 3.3 27
‘State and local government 139.0 141.0 143.1 15 4 15 3.0 3.0 29
Industry
Services 139.0 140.5 143.2 1.8 4 1.9 27 29 3.0
Excluding schools5.6 138.7 | 140.3 | 142.6 18 5 1.6 3.2 3.0 28
Health services 140.3 142.0 144.2 17 6 15 3.2 29 28
Hospitals ... 140.7 142.7 144.8 17 7 15 3.2 3.1 29
Educational services 138.8 140.3 143.1 1.7 3 2.0 25 28 3.1
Schools 139.1 140.6 143.5 18 3 24 25 2.9 3.2
Elementary and secondary .. 138.8 140.0 142.9 19 3 24 24 28 3.0
Colleges and universities .. 140.1 142.4 144.8 14 3 1.9 28 29 3.4
Public administration¢ ..... 138.9 141.5 142.4 Ww 5 6 3.6 3.0 25
Occupational group
White collar 138.4 | 140.2 | 142.6 1.6 3 1.7 27 29 3.0
Professional specialty and technical 137.7 139.3 142.0 15 A 19 23 27 3.41
Executive, administrative, and managerial 140.4 142.8 144.5 1.8 A 1.2 3.5 3.6 2.9
Administrative support, including clerical 139.5 141.3 | 143.0 1.7 “A 1.2 3.4 3.0 25
Blue collar 136.8 139.5 140.9 1.2 5 1.0 2.6 3.2 3.0
Service 143.0 145.3 146.7 1.4 7 1.0 44 3.0 26

1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.
3 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and
public administration.
Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory
activities of State and local governments, SIC’s 91 through 96.

5 Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for
3-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years
ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the
series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted
series) will be available on the Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).
All series will continue to be published until further notice.

Formerly called hospitals and other services.


6

Table 1. Employment Cost Index for total compensation’, wages and salaries, and benefit costs by industry and
occupational group — Continued

(Seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June
1989-100) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
June | Sep. | Dec. | Mar. | June | Sep. | Dec. | Mar. | June | Sep.
1999 | 1999 | 1997 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued
Occupational group
White collar 142.1 | 143.4 14 0.9 1.0 14 0.9 0.4 14 0.9
Blue collar 135.6 | 136.8 6 a 8 8 6 8 1.0 a)
Service . 138.0 | 137.9 9 8 8 8 6 1.2 1.0 “A
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers ... 146.3 | 147.5 9 4 7 7 6 3 9 8
State and local government 144.3 144.7 5 7 7 9 6 6 6 3
Private industry .. 146.8 | 148.1 1.0 4 7 6 7 2 1.0 a)
Industry
Goods producing? 145.0 | 146.2 2 “A 5 4 3 7 Ss 8
Manufacturing 144.3 | 145.7 3 “1 4 3 a 6 5 1.0
Service producing? .. 147.8 | 149.3 15 5 8 8 ms) oA 13 1.0
Nonmanufacturing .. 147.9 | 149.3 12 6 8 8 8 a 1.2 x)
Occupational group
White collar .... 149.3 | 151.0 13 5 7 8 8 0 141 V1
Blue collar 143.5 | 144.7 2 3 6 A 5 6 7 8
Service 147.6 | 148.2 6 8 3 6 3 1.0 9 4
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Internet site (http:/stats.bis.gov/ecthome.htm). All series will continue to be
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. published until further notice.
3 Average standard errors (SE) for the unadjusted series upon which this 4 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
series is based exceeded 0.3 percent for 3-month changes and 0.6 percent —_and.retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
for 12-month changes for the five years ending December 1996. To assist 5 Estimates for transportation and public utilities reflect the changes in

users in ascertaining the reliability of the series, SEs for estimates in this SIC.coding. See Explanatory Notes for further information.
news release (excluding seasonally adjusted series) will be available on the No identifiable seasonality was found for this series.


. 9

Table 3. Employment Cost Index for total compensation’ for private industry workers, by industry and occupational
group — Continued

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
" 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 Sep. June Sep. Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing indus! 138.9 142.0 143.4 1.2 1.2 1.0 42 35 3.2
White collar 141.1 144.1 145.6 14 1.3 1.0 46 3.5 3.2
Excluding sales 142.0 145.3 146.8 Vt Ww 1.0 43 3.4 3.4
Blue colla 133.4 136.8 138.0 8 1.2 a 34 3.3 3.4
Service 136.9 140.4 140.7 9 ao 2 3.2 3.5 28
Occupational group
White collar ... 144.1 144.1 145.6 1.2 1.2 1.0 44 34 3.2
Excluding sales 1414.3 144.5 146.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 3.3 3.3
Professional specialty and technical .. 141.6 144.1 145.2 Ww 8 8 3.6 29 25
Executive, administrative, and managerial 141.9 | 145.8 | 147.7 1.4 1.5 1.3 5.0 41 41
Sales? 140.4 | 142.6 | 144.1 23 24 14 6.2 3.9 2.6
Administrative suppor
clerical ... 140.6 143.7 145.0 7 8 9 3.5 29 3.4
Blue collar .. 135.2 | 138.2 | 139.4 7 9 a 27 29 3.1
Precision production, craft, and repair .. 135.4 | 138.4 | 139.6 7 9 a) 2.8 3.0 3.4
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors 135.7 138.4 139.9 7 8 Vt 26 27 34
Transportation and material moving .. 130.7 | 133.6 | 134.4 6 15 6 24 28 28
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers .. | 138.5 142.3 143.2 7 9 6 3.2 3.4 3.4
Service .. 137.3 | 140.6 | 141.0 1.0 8 3 3.2 3.4 27
Production and nonsupervisory
occupationss ... 138.0 140.8 141.9 1.0 V1 8 3.6 3.4 28
1 includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Estimates for transportation and public utilities reflect the changes in
Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for __SIC.coding. See Explanatory Notes for further information.
3-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the Hourly Eamings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989,
series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted
series) will be available on the Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).
All series will continue to be published until further notice. NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.
Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale


News = ©

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical Contact: USDL: 99-306
(202) 606-6199 ocltinfo@bis.gov

Media Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
(202) 606-5902 hoyle_k@bls.gov IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED

Internet address: UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1999

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—SEPTEMBER 1999

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for September 1999 was 143.3 (June 1989=100),
an increase of 3.1 percent from September 1998, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. The Employment Cost Index (ECT) measures changes in compensation costs, which include
wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.

Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers
(nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 0.8 percent during the June-September 1999
period, following a gain of 1.1 percent in March-June. The increase in wages and salaries was 0.9 percent
during the June-September 1999 period, following a 1.2 percent increase in the previous 3-month period.
Benefit costs rose 0.8 percent during the September 1999 quarter and 0.9 percent in the June 1999 quarter.

Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Mar. “June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.
Compensation Component 19971998 1998 1998 += 1998 ~—-1999|-—1999 ~—- 1999
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 10 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.4 11 0.8
Wages and salaries 11 0.9 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9
Benefit costs 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8
Private industry
Compensation costs 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.7 0.4 1.2 0.8
Wages and salaries 11 0.9 1.0 1.2 0.7 0.4 12 0.8
Benefit costs 1.0 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.2 1.0 09
State and local government
Compensation costs 0.7 0.7 0.7 07 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.8
Wages and salaries 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 08 0.6 1.0 09
Benefit costs 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.3



12

Table 6. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for private industry workers by industry and occupational

group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—

Industry and occupational group Sep. June Sep.
i998 | 1999 | 1999 | Sep. | June | Sep. | Sep. | June | Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Private industry workers ... 136.6 | 139.7 | 141.0 1.3 1.2 0.9 43 3.6 3.2
Excluding sales occupations 136.3 139.6 140.8 1 1.0 9 3.9 3.6 3.3

Industry
Goods producing}! .. 134.3 | 137.3 | 138.5 8 7 x) 3.4 34 3.4
Excluding sales 133.6 136.6 137.8 8 8 a 3.3 3.4 3.1
White collar .... 137.4 140.5 141.7 8 8 a 3.9 3.4 34
Excluding sales 135.7 138.8 140.1 8 7 a 3.7 3.4 3.2
Blue collar 132.3 135.4 136.6 8 8 a] 3.0 3.41 3.3
Construction? .... 128.5 131.9 133.0 2 8 3.0 3.0 3.5
Manufacturing 136.0 | 139.0 | 140.2 1.0 8 a) 3.6 3.3 3.1
White collar 138.3 | 141.4 | 142.7 1 9 9 44 3.4 3.2
Excluding sales 136.3 | 139.6 | 140.8 1.0 9 9 3.8 3.4 3.3
Blue collar .. 134.3 | 137.2 138.4 9 7 eo) 34 3.1 34
Durables 135.9 139.1 140.4 1.0 9 a 3.6 3.4 3.3
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 137.2 141.5 | 142.7 2 15 8 29 3.4 4.0
White collar .. 133.9 138.0 138.3 A 18 2 3.6 3.2 3.3
Blue collar 141.0 145.5 148.9 A 7 23 1.9 3.6 5.6
Nondurables 136.0 | 138.7 | 139.7 8 5 7 3.5 28 27
Service producing? 137.6 140.8 142.1 15 14 9 46 3.8 3.3
Excluding sales 137.9 141.4 142.6 12 V4 8 42 3.8 3.4
White collar .... 139.2 142.3 143.8 1.6 14 11 5.0 3.9 3.3
Excluding sales 140.2 143.7 145.1 13 1.2 1.0 45 3.8 3.5
Blue collar .. 132.4 | 135.9 | 137.0 1.0 W 8 3.5 3.7 3.5
Service 134.2 137.8 138.0 a 8 a 3.4 3.6 28
Transportation and public utilities‘ .. 134.3 136.8 137.5 141 1.0 5 3.2 3.0 24
Transportation2.4 132.4 133.7 134.4 15 WA 5 3.0 25 15
Public utilities 136.5 140.6 141.5 6 1.0 6 3.4 3.6 3.7
Communications 136.7 144.4 141.9 7 1.2 6 3.7 3.9 3.8
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 136.3 140.0 140.9 5 8 6 34 3.2 3.4
Wholesale and retail trade 136.6 139.6 140.7 15 14 8 44 3.7 3.0
Excluding sales 137.6 144.1 141.8 15 Vw 5 44 44 34
Wholesale trade? 139.3 142.3 144.3 1.6 11 14 47 3.8 3.6
Excluding sales 139.6 143.0 144.8 13 8 1.3 43 3.8 3.7
Retail trade ... 135.2 138.3 | 138.9 14 15 A 44 3.8 27
General merchandise stores? . 132.2 134.3 135.6 5 A 1.0 43 24 26
Food stores? .... 131.7 | 132.8 | 133.9 9 8 8 3.9 18 17
Finance, insurance, and real estate? .. 138.1 142.4 144.5 24 3.8 1.5 9.3 5.6 46
Excluding sales ... 139.7 144.8 147.5 1.6 27 1.9 8.0 5.3 5.6
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies? 147.0 154.5 159.2 27 5.7 3.0 14.0 7.9 8.3
Insurance? 138.7 139.8 140.2 29 17 3 78 3.7 14
Excluding sales 136.6 | 139.9 140.9 7 6 7 28 3.1 34
Services .... 140.0 143.2 144.5 12 7 a2 3.9 3.5 3.2
Business services? 141.8 146.3 148.5, 19 6 15 5.1 5.4 47
Health services 137.5 139.6 | 140.6 7 6 7 24 23 2.3
Hospitals 135.8 138.3 139.3 8 5 7 27 27 2.6
Nursing homes: - - - 1.0 9 9 3.9 3.9 3.8
Educational services . 142.8 144.2 147.5 23 2 23 3.6 3.3 3.3
Colleges and universities 142.8 144.4 147.2 22 2 19 3.6 34 3.4

See footnotes at end of table.



ll

Table 5. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for civilian and State and local government workers, by
industry and occupational group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
i, 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Sep. June Sep.

1998 | 1999 | 1999 | Sep. } June | Sep. | Sep. | June | Sep.

1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999

Civilian workers ... 136.8 139.8 141.3 1.3 1.0 V1 4.0 3.6 3.3

Excluding sales occupations . 136.6 139.6 144.1 3 9 Ww 3.7 35 3.3

Industry

Goods producing! ... 134.4 137.4 138.6 8 8 a 3.5 3.1 3.1

Manufacturing 136.0 139.0 | 140.2 1.0 8 eo) 3.6 3.3 3.4

Service producing’ 137.8 140.7 142.3 15 14 Ww 4.2 37 3.3

Services .. 139.6 142.3 144.1 15 6 1.3 3.6 34 3.2

Health services .. 137.6 139.7 140.9 8 6 9 25 23 24

Hospitals .... 136.4 138.8 140.1 1.0 5 ao 2.9 27 27

Educational servic 139.1 140.6 143.7 19 3 22 28 3.0 3.3

Public administration 134.8 137.8 139.5 1.2 7 1.2 3.5 3.5 3.5

Nonmanufacturing ..... 137.0 139.9 141.5 14 Ww Wt 4.2 3.6 3.3

Occupational group

White collar .. 138.8 141.6 143.3 1.5 ipl 1.2 44 3.6 3.2

Excluding sales .. 138.8 | 141.8 | 143.5 1.3 a 1.2 4.0 3.5 3.4

Professional specialty and technical .. 138.5 141.0 142.6 1.4 6 44 3.4 3.2 3.0

Executive, administrative, and managerial ...|_ 140.5 143.8 145.9 1.6 1.6 15 5.2 40 3.8

Administrative support, including clerical .. 137.5 140.9 142.3 1.0 6 1.0 3.6 3.5 35

Blue collar 132.6 | 135.8 | 137.0 a) 1.0 a 3.3 3.3 3.3

Service . 136.1 139.4 140.1 1.2 8 5 3.5 3.6 29

State and local government .. 137.6 | 139.6 | 142.2 1.6 4 1.9 3.0 34 3.3

Industry

Services .... 138.4 | 139.9 | 142.9 18 3 24 27 29 3.3

Excluding 137.8 | 139.6 | 142.1 1.7 4 1.8 3.4 3.0 3.1

Health services 138.7 140.4 142.8 1.6 5 17 3.6 29 3.0

Hospitals .. 138.6 140.6 142.8 1.5 6 1.6 3.7 3.0 3.0

Educational services .. 138.4 139.8 142.9 1.9 2 2.2 27 29 3.3

Schools 138.5 140.0 143.1 18 3 2.2 27 29 3.3

Elementary 138.7 139.9 143.1 1.9 3 2.3 25 28 3.2

Colleges and universities 137.7 139.8 142.6 1.6 A 2.0 34 3.2 3.6

Public administration® ... 134.8 137.8 139.5 1.2 7 1.2 3.5 3.5 3.5

Occupational group

White collar ... 137.6 139.3 142.1 1.8 3 2.0 29 3.0 3.3

Professional specialty and technical 187.9 | 139.4 | 142.5 17 4 22 26 28 3.3

Executive, administrative, and managerial 138.0 140.5 142.7 1.8 3 1.6 3.7 3.6 3.4

Administrative support, including clerical 135.4 137.5 139.6 1.6 a 15 3.0 3.2 34

Blue collar .. 135.1 137.6 139.4 1.2 5 1.3 3.0 3.1 3.2

Service .., 139.2 142.1 144.1 15 a 1.4 3.7 3.6 3.5
} Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 3-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and _series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted

Public administration. series) will be available on the Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome. htm).
Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory Allseries will continue to be published until further notice.
activities of State and local governments, SIC’s 91 through 96. Formerly called hospitals and other services.

Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for


8 .

Table 3. Employment Cost Index for total compensation’ for private industry workers, by industry and occupational
group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
, 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 Sep. June Sep. Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Private industry workers ... 139.0 142.0 143.3 V1 1 0.9 3.8 3.3 3.4
Excluding sales occupations . 138.8 141.9 143.2 9 1.0 a) 3.5 3.2 3.2
Industry

Goods producing? .. 137.1 139.9 144.1 7 7 9 26 27 29
Excluding sales 136.5 139.3 140.5 7 7 9 26 27 2.9
White collar ..... 139.7 142.7 143.9 6 7 8 3.0 28 3.0
Excluding sales 138.3 141.3 142.5, 7 7 8 28 28 3.0
Blue collar ... 135.5 138.3 139.4 7 9 8 23 27 29
Construction’ ..... 133.4 136.9 137.9 5 1.0 7 29 3.2 3.4
Manufacturing 138.2 140.9 142.4 7 7 a) 27 27 28
White collar 140.1 143.0 144.3 7 8 a 3.2 28 3.0
Excluding sales 138.3 141.3 142.5 7 a 8 28 29 3.0
Blue collar 136.8 139.4 140.5 7 6 8 2.3 2.6 27
Durables 138.5, 141.0 142.3 8 8 a 2.6 2.6 27
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 139.3 142.4 143.7 3 1.4 a) 141 25 3.2
White collar 137.4 139.5 139.8 2 1.6 2 21 18 1.7
Blue collar 140.8 145.7 149.0 5 1.0 23 77 4.0 5.8
Nondurables .. 137.6 140.4 141.5 7 6 8 29 27 2.8
Service producing+ 139.6 | 142.8 | 144.1 13 1.3 9 43 3.6 3.2
Excluding sales 140.0 143.3 144.6 Ww ini 9 41 35 3.3
White collar .... 141.2 144.3 145.8 14 14 1.0 47 3.6 3.3
Excluding sales 142.2 145.5 147.0 141 1.2 1.0 43 35 34
Blue collar 134.3 137.8 139.1 8 1.2 a 3.3 3.5 3.6
Service 137.0 140.5 140.8 eo) 9 2 3.2 3.5 28
Transportation and public utilitiesS 138.5, 140.9 141.8 1.0 9 6 42 28 24
Transportation3.5 . 136.7 | 138.1 | 138.7 13 1.0 4 35 24 15
Public utilities 140.7 144.6 145.7 7 8 8 5.2 3.5 3.6
Communications .. 140.5 144.9 146.1 9 11 8 6.6 41 4.0
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 141.0 144.2 145.1 5 6 6 3.7 28 29
Wholesale and retail trade .. 137.6 | 141.1 142.2 1.3 1.6 8 3.9 3.9 3.3
Excluding sales 138.1 141.9 142.8 13 14 6 3.8 44 3.4
Wholesale trade’ . 140.8 144.6 146.3 1.6 13 1.2 46 43 3.9
Excluding sales 140.0 144.0 145.8 1.3 11 1.3 4t 42 44
Retail trade 135.9 139.1 140.0 141 17 6 3.7 35 3.0
General merchandise stores‘ 133.2 135.6 137.2 2 A 1.2 3.6 2.0 3.0
Food stores3 133.7 135.7 137.0 6 1.0 1.0 3.0 24 25
Finance, insurance, and real estate? 141.0 145.8 147.6 1.9 3.0 1.2 8.0 5.3 47
Excluding sales 143.2 148.8 151.0 1.3 22 15 7.3 5.3 5.4

Banking, savings and loan, and other
credit agencies? .. 148.4 155.4 159.3 24 44 25 114.5 7.0 7.3
Insurance’ .. 141.9 144.0 144.5 22 1.6 3 6.6 3.7 18
Excluding sales 141.6 145.4 146.2 5 6 6 34 3.2 3.2
Services .. 141.8 144.6 146.4 V1 8 1.0 35 3.1 3.0
Business services’ 143.5 | 148.7 | 150.7 2.0 8 1.3 5.3 5.7 5.0
Health services .. 139.0 141.4 142.6 2 6 8 1.5 1.9 26
Hospitals .... 139.1 142.1 143.0 7 6 6 27 28 2.8
Nursing homes = = - 1.0 9 a 3.3 3.8 3.7
Educational service: 147.0 148.7 152.2 2.2 3 24 3.8 3.3 3.5
Colleges and universities 147.8 149.6 152.6 24 3 2.0 3.7 3.3 3.2

See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

Chart A. Changes in wages and salaries and
benefit costs, private industry

Wages and salaries Benefits

12-month percent change

14 14
12 12
10 10
8 8
6 6
4 4
2 2
0 0

Chart B. Changes in wages and salaries and
benefit costs, State and local government

Wages and salaries Benefits

12-month percent change

81.83.85. 87.89.91 .93.95.97.99

81. 83. 85. 87.89.91 .93.95.97.99

Chart C. Changes in compensation,
private industry and State and local
government

Private industry State and local gov't.

12-month percent change
10

83. 85 . 87. 89. 91. 93. 95. 97. 99

Chart D. Changes in wages and salaries,
private industry and State and local
government _

Private industry State and local gov't.

12-month percent change
10

83. 85. 87. 89.91. 93. 95. 97. 99

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Compensation Levels and Trends October 1999  ocltinfo@bls.gov (202) 606-6199



15

Table 8. Employment Cost Index for benefits for civilian, State and local government, and private industry
workers by industry, occupational group, and bargaining status

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
Industry, occupational group, and 3 months ended— 12 months ended-
bargaining status Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 Sep. June Sep. Sep. June Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Civilian workers ... 144.0 | 146.6 | 147.9 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.6 25 27
State and local government 142.1 144.0 145.0 1.3 3 7 2.8 26 2.0
Private industry 144.5 147.3 148.6 6 1.0 a 2.6 25 28
Industry
Goods producingt 143.0 145.2 146.3 4 7 8 V1 1.9 23
Service producing? . 144.9 147.9 149.4 8 1.2 1.0 3.6 29 34
Manufacturing ... 142.6 144.5 145.7 A 6 8 8 15 2.2
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 143.8 144.3 145.6 5 1.2 a 2.6 8 1.3
White collar3 145.5 142.7 142.9 3 1.0 A +9 1.6 1.8
Blue collar 140.7 146.3 149.5 ) 15 2.2 51 49 6.3
Nonmanufacturing 145.0 148.0 149.4 8 1.2 9 3.4 28 3.0
Occupational group
White collar 146.6 149.4 151.0 7 1.0 1 3.2 26 3.0
Blue collar .. 141.0 143.6 144.8 4 1.0 8 1.6 23 27
Service . 144.7 | 147.6 148.4 7 9 5 23 27 2.6
Bargaining status
Union .. 145.0 146.9 148.3 8 8 1.0 2.0 22 2.3
Nonunion 144.2 147.1 148.5 6 1.0 1.0 29 26 3.0

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities;
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service
indystries.

Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for
‘3-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years

ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the
series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally
adjusted series) will be available on the Internet site
(htipy//stats.bls.gow/ecthome.htm). All series will continue to be published
until further notice.


17

occupation series. A fuller explanation of the calculation of index numbers appears in an article, "Estimation
Procedures for the Employment Cost Index," in the May 1982 issue of the Monthly Labor Review.

Beginning with the March 1990 ECT release, indexes were rebased to June 1989=100. A description of
the rebasing is included in the article "Employment Cost Index Rebased to June 1989," in the April 1990 issue

of the Monthly Labor Review.

Beginning with the December 1990 ECI release, seasonally adjusted data are available for selected ECI
series. Seasonal adjustment removes the effects of events that follow a more or less regular pattern each year.
These adjustments make nonseasonal patterns easier to identify. ECI series are seasonally adjusted using
either direct or composite seasonally adjusted estimates. Industry and occupational series, such as
construction and service occupations, are adjusted directly. More aggregate series, such as civilian or private
industry workers, use composite estimates. The composite estimates could be obtained by aggregating either
the industry or the occupational components, and the results may differ depending on which method is used.
The aggregate seasonally adjusted ECI series are estimated by aggregating the component seasonally adjusted
industry series. The seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated once a year. The March release contains data
reflecting the newly updated seasonal adjustment factors. The historical data for the last five years are then
revised based on the newly estimated factors. The seasonal factors for 1999, revised seasonally adjusted
indexes, and 3-month percent changes for the past five years, are available on the Internet at

(http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) or upon request.

The ECI sample is rotated approximately every five years; this makes it more representative and reduces
respondent burden. The sample is replaced on a cross-area, cross-industry basis. The September 1999 index
contains the second of several integrated National Compensation Survey (NCS)-ECI samples. Integrated
samples result in an increase in the number of private industry establishments and occupations in the survey.
The NCS-ECI sample will be completely integrated over the next three years.

The costs per hour worked of compensation components, based on March data from the ECI, are
published in a separate news release titled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation - March 1999," and
in an annual bulletin, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, 1986-98, (Bulletin 2508). A description
of the cost levels data (ECEC) is provided in the article "Analyzing Employers’ Costs for Wages, Salaries, and
Benefits" in the October 1987 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. This article, along with other ECEC
research articles, also appears in the annual bulletin. The cost levels are calculated with current employment
weights, rather than the fixed 1990 weights used in computing the ECI. Therefore, year-to-year changes in the
cost levels usually differ from those in the ECI.

Because the ECI is a sample survey, it is subject to sampling errors. Sampling errors are differences that
occur between the results computed from a sample of observations and those computed from all observations
in the population. The estimates derived from different samples selected using the same sample design may
differ from each other. A measure of the variation among these differing estimates is the standard error. It'can
be used to measure the precision with which an estimate from a particular sample approximates the expected
result of all possible samples. The chances are about 68 out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs
from a complete population figure by less than the standard error. The chances are about 90 out of 100 that
this difference would be less than 1.6 times the standard error. The statements of comparisons appearing in
this publication are significant at a 1.6 standard error level or better, unless otherwise indicated. This means
that for differences cited, the estimated difference is greater than 1.6 times the standard error of the difference.

Because standard errors vary from quarter to quarter, the ECI uses a five-year moving average of
standard errors to evaluate published series. Currently, in the higher level aggregate series, the standard errors
for 3-month changes are generally 0.1 percent or less: for 12-month changes, standard errors are generally 0.25
percent or less. Currently, in the lower level series, standard errors are generally 0.3 percent or less for 3-
month changes and 0.6 percent or less for 12-month changes. Series found to have a higher average standard
error for the five years ending December 1996 are footnoted in the tables.

BLS is evaluating ECI publication standards as part of its overall quality improvement plan. The first
phase of this evaluation, a review of the statistical reliability of the ECI series, is complete. To improve the
quality of the ECI estimates, the sample size is being increased and other initiatives, such as revising
collection procedures, are being explored. All series will continue to be published until further notice,
although standard errors for some series are large. The five-year moving average of standard errors for all


3
The compensation cost change for nonunion workers in private industry was 3.2 percent, while the
change for union workers was 2.5 percent. In service-producing industries, union compensation increased 2.2
percent, and nonunion compensation increased 3.4 percent. In goods-producing industries, the increase for
union workers was 2.7 percent, and the increase for nonunion workers was 3.0 percent. Compensation in blue-
collar occupations increased 2.4 percent for union workers and 3.5 percent for nonunion workers. (See table

4.)
State and local government

In State and local government, the September 1999 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 3.3
percent, as compared with a 3.0 percent increase in September 1998. Benefit costs for September 1999
increased 2.0 percent. In September 1998, the increase was 2.8 percent. (See tables 5 and 8.)

NOTES:
The ECI for December 1999 is scheduled to be released Thursday, January 27, 2000, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

ECI data are available on the ECI home page (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm). To access data using
Anonymous FTP, use the Internet address (ftp://ftp.bls.gov).

For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to (labstat.helpdesk @bls.gov). For
ECI data requests, send e-mail to (ocltinfo@bls.gov).

News releases and other information are available from the BLS fax-on-demand service. To request a
document fax, call (202) 606-6325. To request a catalog of available documents, select option 2 at the initial
voice prompt. To request data found in this news release, enter the following codes:

Text 4110
Tables 1-4 A115
Tables 5-7 4120
Table 8 4125

Explanatory notes 4190



2

The 3-month increase in compensation costs for private industry workers was 0.8 percent during the
June-September 1999 period. The gain in wages and salaries also was 0.8 percent in September; in June, it
was 1.2 percent. Benefit costs showed a 3-month rise of 0.9 percent during the September quarter and 1.0
percent during the June period. (See tables A and 1.)

Compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 0.8 percent during the September
1999 period, the same as in the previous quarter. Wages and salaries rose 0.9 percent in September; in June,
the increase was 1.0 percent. Benefit costs increased 0.3 percent in the September quarter, down from 0.6
percent in the previous quarter. The small increase in State and local government benefit costs was due, in
part, to smaller increases in employer costs for retirement plans.

Over-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) increased 3.1 percent for the year
ended in September 1999. This compares with over-the-year increases of 3.7 percent in September 1998 and
3.0 percent in September 1997. Compensation costs in private industry rose 3.1 percent in September 1999,
following increases of 3.8 percent in September 1998 and 3.2 percent in September 1997. Compensation costs
in State and local government increased 2.9 percent for the year ended September 1999. Over-the-year
increases were 3.0 percent in September 1998, and 2.4 percent in September 1997. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Nonfarm private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 3.2 percent for the year ended September 1999, after
increasing 4.3 percent in the year ended September 1998. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private
industry workers increased 2.8 percent for the year ended in September 1999, compared with 2.6 percent in
September 1998. (See chart A and tables B and 8.)

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 3.2 percent for white-collar
occupations, 3.1 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 2.7 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, increases in compensation costs ranged from 2.5 percent for professional specialty and
technical to 4.1 percent for executive, administrative, and managerial occupations. (See table 3.)

Table B. 12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, not seasonally adjusted
Sep. Sep. Sep. Sep. Sep. Sep.

Compensation Component 19941995 1996 _1997__—:1998 1999
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 3.2 27 2.8 3.0 3.7 3.1
Wages and salaries 29 2.8 3.2 3.5 4.0 3.3
Benefit costs 3.8 2.2 18 1.9 2.6 2.7
Private industry
Compensation costs 3.3 2.6 2.9 3.2 3.8 3.1
Wages and salaries 29 2.8 3.3 3.6 4.3 3.2
Benefit costs 4.0 2.1 1.8 2.0 2.6 2.8
State and local government
Compensation costs 3.0 3.0 2.5 24 3.0 2.9
Wages and salaries 2.9 3.1 2.8 27 3.0 3.3
Benefit costs 3.2 2.5 1.9 1.5 2.8 2.0

For the year ended September 1999, the private industry compensation cost increase was 3.2 percent for
service-producing industries and 2.9 percent for goods-producing industries. For the year ended in September
1998, compensation costs rose 4.3 percent in service-producing industries and 2.6 percent in goods-producing
industries. Among industry divisions, over-the-year increases ranged from 2.4 percent in transportation and
public utilities to 4.7 percent in finance, insurance, and real estate. (See table 3.)


. 13

Table 6. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for private industry workers by industry and occupational
group — Continued

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
i 3 months ended- 12 months ended-
Industry and occupational group sep. | June | sep.
1998 | 1999 | 1999 | Sep. | June | Sep. | Sep. | June | Sep.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries .. 136.5, 139.7 141.0 13 1.3 0.9 44 3.7 3.3
White collar .. 138.9 142.0 143.5, 15 1.4 Ww 49 3.8 3.3
Excluding sales 139.8 143.2 144.6 12 V4 1.0 45 37 3.4
Blue collar 130.5 | 134.0 | 135.1 8 1.2 8 3.2 3.5 3.5
Service 134.1 187.7 | 137.9 eo) 9 a 3.4 3.6 28
Occupational group
White collar 139.0 142.1 143.5 15 1.3 1.0 47 37 3.2
Excluding sales 139.1 142.5 | 143.9 1.2 14 1.0 4.3 3.6 3.5
Professional specialty and technical 138.7 141.8 142.6 1.2 8B 6 3.7 3.4 28
Executive, administrative, and managerial 140.9 144.3 146.4 1.6 17 1.5 5.5 4.0 3.9
Sales? 138.8 140.5 142.4 27 23 1 6.9 3.9 24
Administrative support, including
clerical 137.9 | 141.4 | 142.7 9 7 9 3.8 3.4 35
Blue collar ... 132.4 135.6 136.8 8& 1.0 a 3.2 3.3 3.3
Precision production, craft, and repair -| 132.3 135.6 136.7 8&8 1.0 8 3.2 3.4 3.3
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors ... 133.8 136.7, 138.3 8 7 1.2 3.3 3.0 3.4
Transportation and material Te} .| 127.6 131.0 131.9 9 15 7 28 3.6 3.4
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers -| 135.1 138.3 139.4 1.0 7 8 3.8 3.4 3.2
Service ... 134.4 137.8 138.0 14 8 a 3.5 3.6 27
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations) ..... 135.2 138.2 139.3 1.2 1.0 8 3.9 3.4 3.0
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for Estimates for transportation and public utilities reflect the changes in
S-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years SIC.coding. See Explanatory Notes for further information.
ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted Hourly Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
series) will be available on the Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).
All series will continue to be published until further notice.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.


16

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a measure of the change in the cost of labor, free from the
influence of employment shifts among occupations and industries. The compensation series includes changes
in wages and salaries and employer costs for employee benefits. The wage and salary series and the benefit
cost series provide the change for the two components of compensation.

Wages and salaries are defined as the hourly straight-time wage rate or, for workers not paid on an
hourly basis, straight-time earnings divided by the corresponding hours. Straight-time wage and salary rates
are total earnings before payroll deductions, excluding premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends
and holidays, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses such as lump-sum payments provided in lieu of
wage increases. Production bonuses, incentive earnings, commission payments, and cost-of-living
adjustments are included in straight-time wage and salary rates.

Benefits covered by the ECI are: Paid leave--vacations, holidays, sick leave, and other leave;
supplemental pay--premium pay for work in addition to the regular work schedule (such as overtime,
weekends, and holidays), shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses (such as lump-sum payments provided
in lieu of wage increases); insurance benefits--life, health, short-term disability, and long-term disability;
retirement and savings benefits--defined benefit and defined contribution plans; legally required benefits--
Social Security, Federal and State unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation; and other benefits--
severance pay and supplemental unemployment plans.

The ECI provides data for the civilian economy, which includes the total nonfarm economy except
private households and the Federal government. The private industry series and the State and local
government series provide data for the two sectors separately.

Data for this quarter were collected from a probability sample of approximately 27,900 occupational
observations within about 6,500 sample establishments in private industry and approximately 4,100
occupations within about 800 sample establishments in State and local governments. Data are collected for
the pay period including the 12" day of the survey months of March, June, September, and December.

The sampled establishments are classified by industry categories based on the 1987 Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC), as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In 1996, some establishments
in motor freight transportation and warehousing (SIC 42), transportation by air (SIC 45), and transportation
services (SIC 47) were reclassified into air courier services (SIC 4513), which includes support
establishments. While the establishments in question were engaged in the delivery of letters, parcels, and
packages, they were operated by enterprises engaged in furnishing air delivery of individually addressed
letters, parcels, and packages. The ECI sample introduced these reclassifications with the June 1998 reference
period.

Within an establishment, specific job categories are selected to represent broader occupational groups.
Since March 1995, the jobs are classified according to the 1990 Census, which differs little from the 1980
Census. From June 1986 through December 1994, the jobs were classified according to definitions used in the
1980 Census. Prior to June 1986, they were classified according to the 1970 Census. Differences between the
two classification systems are slight, as indicated in the article "Introducing New Weights for the Employment
Cost Index," in the June 1985 issue of the Monthly Labor Review.

Fixed employment weights are used each quarter to calculate the most aggregate indexes--civilian,
private, and State and local government. These fixed weights are also used to derive all of the industry and
occupation series indexes. Since March 1995, 1990 employment counts, primarily from the Bureau's
Occupational Employment Statistics survey, have been used. A description of the reweighting is included in
an article “Introducing 1990 Weights for the Employment Cost Index," published in the June 1995 issue of
Compensation and Working Conditions (available upon request). From June 1986 through December 1994,
employment counts from the 1980 Census were used as weights. Before June 1986, employment counts from
the 1970 Census were used.

For the series based on bargaining status, region, and area size, employment data are not available. The
employment weights are reallocated within these series each quarter based on the current ECI sample. The
indexes for these series, consequently, are not strictly comparable to those for the aggregate, industry, and