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-—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. Dee. Mar.
2000 | 2000 | 2001 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Bargaining status
141.2 | 142.4 0.5 0.9 0.6 27 34 3.6
139.2 | 140.3 5 7 Bs) 3.0 35 3.8
Goods-producing industries’ 137.2 | 141.3 | 142.4 8 8 8B 3.7 3.8 3.8
Service-producing industries? e 141.5 | 142.2 3 1.0 5 16 34 3.3
Manufacturing ........ssossesereere 138.8 | 142.6 | 143.9 2 8 a 3.9 37 37
Blue-collar occupations. c 141.7 | 143.0 7 9 3 3.6 3.6 3.8
Nonmanufacturing ..... z 140.4 | 141.1 A 2 5 2.0 3.3 3.4
Nonunion ............... 149.0 | 150.8 13 & 1.2 44 40. 3.9
Blue-collar occupations 144.9 | 147.1 12 6 15 3.8 37 4.0
Goods-producing industries! 146.8 | 148.8 1.3 7 14 3.7 40 44
‘Service-producing industries? . 149.6 | 151.4 1.3 & 12 47 40 3.8
Manufacturing ..... 148.0 | 150.1 1.0 5 14 3.6 3.6 3.9
Blue-collar occupations 146.6 | 148.7 8 8 14 3.1 35 44
Nonmanufacturing ... 148.9 | 150.7 14 6 1.2 46 41 3.9
Region?
146.0 | 147.3 1.0 5 3 3.8 3.6 35
146.3 | 148.3 11 7 14 3.7 3.4 37
149.6 | 150.9 1.2 7 3 46 42 3.9
149.2 | 151.3 15 7 1.4 47 46 46
144.1 148.0 | 149.8 V1 6 1.2 42 3.9 4.0
142.2 | 146.0 | 147.4 14 9 1.0 3.7 4at 37

3 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

2 Includes transportation, communication, "and public _utilties;
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service
industries.

3 The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsyivania,
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 Ilinois, 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.


5

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

(Seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June
1989=100) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar, Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun, Sep. Dec. Mar.
2000 2001 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers .. 150.6 | 152.3 1.0 0.9 1.0 13 1.0 0.9 09 Ww
State and local govemment 148.6 | 150.1 a) 8 14 8&8 8 6 8 1.0
Private industry «0... 151.0 | 152.7 1 8 11 14 1.2 x) 3 14
Industry
Goods producing? 149.1 150.7 6 a) 441 1.6 1.2 1.0 7 41
Construction 147.0 | 148.4 6 8 9 14 14 14 14 1.0
149.5 | 151.2 7 a 13 1.4 1.0 1.0 5 WwW
150.3 | 151.8 7 9 1.4 1.6 12 7 7 1.0
148.0 | 150.1 6 9 Ww Ww 8 441 3 14
152.0 | 153.7 1.3 a 1.0 14 1.0 1.0 1.0 14
148.5 | 150.5 9 6 6 1.0 1.3 1.0 9 13
154.3 | 155.1 1.3 1.3 14 1.0 1 4 13 5
Retail trade ............ 147.2 | 148.7 15 6 1 14 1.0 eo] 9 1.0
Finance, insurance, and real estate* 155.7 | 157.9 3.0 12 5 25 7 14 3 14
154.1 156.6 8 1.0 44 13 Ani 11 9 16
151.4 | 153.1 Ww 1.0 1.0 14 11 14 1.0 V1
153.9 | 155.6 12 1.0 12 14 12 3 1.0 141
146.6 | 148.3 8&8 9 1.0 14 8 1.0 8 12
147.8 | 149.6 8 3 Ww & Ww 8 1A 12
WAGES AND SALARIES

Civilian workers .. 147.9 | 1494 Vt 9 3 at 1.0 2 8& 1.0
State and local government 147.9 | 149.4 1.0 9 1.0 a 8&8 8&8 8 1.0
Private industry ..... 147.9 | 149.5 1.2 a 1.0 Vi 1.0 a 8 1
145.2 | 147.0 7 3 9 141 12 a & 1.2
141.1 142.3 5 8 1.0 16 Vt 1.0 14 9
146.5 | 148.5 8 9 9 1.0 1.0 a 5 1.4
147.3 | 149.0 9 a) 1.0 & 12 1.0 8 12
145.6 | 147.3 & & 1.0 1.0 2 8 A 1.2
Service producing? .. .| 149.0 | 150.5 14 a) 1.0 11 1.0 9 8& 1.0
Transportation and put .| 142.3] 143.8 WA 3 A 5 V1 7 a) 11
Wholesale trade -| 151.3 | 151.9 3 15 14 1.0 1 3 Wt 4
Retail trade... 145.7 | 146.9 14 A 1 14 8 8 8 8
Finance, insurance, and real estate+ 151.7 | 153.9 3.8 15 5 24 5 15 xe) 1.5
Services .... 151.9 | 153.8 7 8 12 a) 12 a) 9 13
Nonmanufacturing 148.0 | 149.5 13 9 a) 12 VA 9 8 1.0

‘See footnotes at end of table.


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—
3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. Dec. Mar,
2000 2000 2001 Mar, Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Bargaining status
Union ...... oe 143.0 | 146.9 | 147.9 13 05 07 3.6 4.0 34
Blue-collar occupations 144.1 145.0 | 145.9 1.6 5 & 41 44 34
Goods-producing industries? 143.3 | 147.3 | 147.9 18 3 A 48 46 3.2
Service-producing industries? 1425 | 146.4 | 147.6 8 8 8 24 35 3.6
Manufacturing ..... 1445 | 147.4 | 147.9 25 2 3 55 45 24
Blue-collar occupations 143.9 | 147.0 | 147.3 25 3 2 54 47 24
Nonmanufacturing ...... 141.7 | 146.2 | 147.3 6 8 8&8 26 38 40
Nonunion .... 147.4 | 151.6 | 163.8 1.5 7 15 47 44 43
Blue-collar occupations 143.4 | 147.2 | 149.4 1.4 & 15 42 44 4.2
Goods-producing industries? 145.4 | 149.3 | 151.6 1.6 6 1.5 41 43 43
Service-producing industries 148.0 | 152.3 | 154.4 1.6 7 1.4 49 45 43
Manufacturing 146.5 | 149.9 | 152.4 15 5 17 41 38 40
Blue-collar occupations 144.4 | 148.0 | 149.9 1.0 a 1.3 3.5 3.6 3.8
Nonmanufacturing ........... 147.4 | 151.8 | 153.9 1.6 7 14 48 46 44
Region4
146.3 | 150.3 | 151.6 1.4 7 e) 41 42 3.6
145.0 | 148.6 | 151.1 14 7 17 42 3.9 42
148.9 | 153.3 | 154.8 18 7 1.0 51 48 40.
147.0 | 151.8 | 154.3 16 7 1.6 48 49 5.0 ~
146.9 | 151.0 | 153.1 15 6 14 46 44 42
146.0 | 150.3 | 152.1 17 1.0 1.2 3.9 47 4.2

1 includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.

2 includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

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

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 Ca Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
and West Virginia, Midwest: Iinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin, and West. Alaska, Arizona, California, 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—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar, Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 Mar. Dec, Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Civilian workers .. 146.5 | 150.6 | 152.5 13 0.7 13 43 ad 41
Excluding sales occupations 146.3 | 150.5 | 152.5 12 7 1.3 4at 42 42
Industry
Goods producing? 144.9 | 148.8 | 150.7 17 5 1.3 42 44 4,0
Manufacturing 146.0 | 149.3 | 151.3 17 A 1.3 44 4.0 3.6
Service producing’ .... 147.1 151.1 153.0 12 7 13 44 4.0 4.0
Services .. 148.0 | 1524 | 154.3 1.0 8 12° 4.0 40 43
Health services .. 145.9 | 150.7 | 152.5 11 41 1.2 38 44 45
Hospitals .... 146.3 | 151.3-| 153.2 9 12 1.3 35 43 AT
Educational services 146.5 | 150.6 | 151.7 5 6 7 3.7 3.3 3.5
Public administration4 145.7 | 148.3 | 150.6 a 1.0 1.6 3.5 27 3.4
Nonmanufacturing ..... 146.6 | 150.7. | 152.6 13 7 1.3 43 44 44
Occupational group
White collar 152.5 | 154.4 14 7 12 46 42 4.0
Excluding sales .. 152.6 | 154.7 1.3 7 1.4 43 42 43
Professional specialty and technical 146.7 | 151.3 | 153.2 1.0 2 1.3 3.8 44 44
Executive, administrative, and mana: 150.5 | 154.6 | 156.6 13 & 1.3 49 4.0 4d
Administrative support, including clerical .... 148.6 | 152.8 | 155.3 17 7 1.6 43 46 45
Blue collar 146.5 | 148.2 15 6 12 41 42 3.9
Service 150.0 | 152.0 8 1.0 13 33 3.6 at
State and local government ... 148.9 | 150.3 6 7 3 3.6 3.0 3.3
Industry
145.2 | 148.9 | 149.9 a) 6 7 37 3.0 3.2
145.2 | 148.8 | 150.1 1.0 8 9 40 35 3.4
147.3 | 151.6 | 152.1 1.0 141 3 43 40 3.3
147.9 } 152.0 | 152.2 Ww a A 44 3.9 29
145.0 | 148.7 | 149.6 A 5 6 3.6 3.0 3.2
145.3 | 149.0 ] 149.9 4 5 6 3.6 3.0 3.2
. 1445 | 148.1 148.5, 3 5 3 35 28 28
Colleges and universities 147.4 | 151.7 | 153.7 & 8 13 40 3.5 43
Public administration4 ... 145.7 | 148.3 | 150.6 9 1.0 16 35 27 3.4
Occupational group
White collar .. 144.9 | 148.3 | 149.5 6 7 8 3.6 3.0 3.2
Professional specialty and technical 144.1 147.4 | 148.4 & 5 7 38 29 3.0
Executive, administrative, and manage! 147.0 | 150.7 | 152.4 & 1.0 11 34 34 37
Administrative support, including clerical 145.9 | 149.4 | 150.7 & 7 a) 3.2 3.0 3.3
Blue collar 143.7 | 147.2 | 148.6 8 a 1.0 35 3.3 34
Service 149.5 | 152.9 | 155.3 6 3 16 3.6 29 3.9
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. public administration.
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 4 Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale activities of State and local governments, SICs 91 through 96.
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and


6

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

(Seasonally adjusted data)
indores (oye Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar.
2000 2001 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued
Occupational group
152.4 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.0 09 08 11
144.6 1.0 9 7 1.0 1.0 1.0 6 1.3
146.4 8 A 12 1.0 41 7 1.0 1.0
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers... 157.1 159.2 8 1.0 1.3 18 V4 1.0 1.0 13
‘State and local government 150.2 | 152.0 & 6 1.2 8 5 3 7 1.2
Private. industry 158.7 | 161.0 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.0 1.2 1.2 aml 1.4
Industry
Goods producing? 156.8 | 158.3 5 1.0 1.6 23 1.2 1.2 7 1.0
Manufacturing .. 155.4 | 156.9 5 1.0 18 26 9 9 3 1.0
Service producing? .. 159.8 | 162.5 1.2 Ww 12 19 1.2 13 13 17
Nonmanufacturing ... 160.1 162.8 VA 1.0 1.2 19 1.3 1.3 13 17
Occupational group
White collar 162.0 | 165.0 1.0 Ww 1A 2.0 1.4 1.3 Ww 19
Blue collar 154.3 | 155.9 7 3 1.2 2.6 7 11, 8 1.0
Service .. 156.5 | 159.5 8&8 6 Ww 5 1.2 1.2 14 1.9
7 Includes wages, Salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.

2 Includes mining, construction, and mani

facturing. No identifiable seasonality was found for this series.
3 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale and



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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 | 2000 | 2001 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 146.7 | 151.1 153.1 15 0.7 1.3 46 46 44
White collar .. 149.2 | 153.7 | 155.8 1.6 7 14 48 46 44
150.2 | 155.1 157.5 14 8 15 45 47 49
140.6 | 144.8 | 146.9 14 6 1.5 4.0 44 45
143.5 | 147.8 | 149.5 & 1.0 1.2 3.1 3.9 42
Occupational group
White collar 149.3 | 153.6 °| 155.7 1.6 7 1.4 48 46 43
Excluding 149.4 | 154.1 156.5 14 8 16 45 46 48
Professional specialty and 148.4 | 153.7 | 156.3 12 1.0 17 3.8 48 53
Executive, administrative, and managerial 151.1 155.3 | 157.3 1.3 6 1.3 5.1 42 41
148.9 | 151.4 | 152.3 25 A 6 67 42 23
clerical ... 149.0 | 153.4 | 156.1 19 7 1.8 45 49 48
142.6 | 146.4 | 148.2 15 6 1.2 42 42 3.9
repaii 142.3 | 146.7 | 148.7 1.2 & 14 37 43 45
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors .. 144.0 | 146.8 | 148.3 18. 5 10 49 38 3.0
Transportation and material moving 137.5 | 141.1 142.6 Ww a9 Ww 45 44 37
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers ... 146.4 | 150.4 | 152.2 14 7 1.2 3.8 42 4.0
Service escoscoaneesnaeen 143.9 | 148.1 150.0 a 1.0 13 3.2 3.9 42
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations .... 145.3 | 149.5 | 151.4 1.5 7 1.3 43 45 42
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. 4 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Hourly Eamings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries. NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.


\ .
- United States
Department Es
. of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical Contact: : USDL: 01-113.
(202) 691-6199 ocltinfo@bls.gov

Media Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
(202) 691-5902 hoyle_k@bls.gov : IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED

Intemet address: UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2001

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—MARCH 2001

‘The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for March 2001 was 152.5 (June 1989=100), an
increase of 4.1 percent from March 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. The Employment Cost Index (ECI) measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages,
salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.

Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

- _Ona seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian wotkers
(nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 1.1 percent during the December 2000-March -
2001 period, following a gain of 0.9 percent in September-December 2000. Wages and salaries increased 1.0
percent during the December 2000-March 2001 period, following a 0.8 percent increase-in the previous 3-
month period. Benefit costs rose 1.3 percent during the March 2001 quarter, following a 1.0 percent increase
in the December 2000 quarter. .

Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted
June Sep. Dec. = Mar. June Sep. Dec. — Mar.

Compensation Component 1999 1999 1999 2000 —- 2000'——- 2000 2001
Civilian workers :

Compensation costs 10- 09 1.0 13 1.0 0.9 0.9 11
Wages and:salaries 1d 09 0.9 11 1.0 0.9 0.8 10
Benefit costs 0.8 10 13 18 Ll 1.0 1.0 13

Private industry .

Compensation costs 11 0.8— 1.1 14 12 09 0.9 11
‘Wages and salaries 12 0.9 1.0 11 1.0 0.9 0.8 Ll
Benefit costs . 10 1.0 13 2.0 12 12 11 14

State and local government .

Compensation costs 0.9 0.8 Ll 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.0
Wages and salaries 1.0 0.9 1.0 09° 8608 0.8 0.8 1.0
Benefit costs 0.6 0.6 12. 08 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.2

; -NOTE.
This release incorporates new seasonal adjustment factors. See page 3 for details.



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—
" 3 months ended 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 | 2000 | 2001 lar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Private industry workers ..... 143.9 | 147.7 | 149.4 1.2 06 1.2 42 3.9 3.8
Excluding sales occupations 143.5 | 147.6 | 149.5 1 8 1.3 38 3.9 42
Industry
Goods producing! 141.3 | 145.2 | 147.0 1 6 12 37 3.9 40
Excluding sales 140.5 | 144.6 | 146.3 12 8 1.2 37 41 41
White collar ..... 145.0 | 148.7 | 150.5 14 5 1.2 4.0 4.0 3.8
Excluding sales 143.2 | 147.2 | 148.9 1.3 8 1.2 3.9 42 40
Blue collar 139.0 | 143.1 144.7 1.0 & 11 35 40 4A
COMSEUCHION ...cesssssseescesee 140.7 | 142.1 18 a 1.0 4at 53 45
Manufacturing 146.5 | 148.5 1.0 5 1.4 3.6 35 3.9
149.2 | 151.1 13 3 1.3 41 3.6 3.6
147.5 | 149.1 12 6 141 3.9 3.9 3.8
144.6 | 146.4 8 8 1.2. 3.3 35 4.0
147.3 | 149.0 8 8 1.2 37 3.9 42
151.6 | 154.3 1.9 WA 18 49 5.6 5.5
146.2 | 149.8 22 A 25 49 5.1 5.4
159.3 | 160.3 1.3 27 6 51 6.3 5.6
145.4 | 147.5 1.3 3 1.4 3.4 32 3.4
148.9 | 150.5 1.2 7 Ww 44 3.9 3.8
149.4 | 151.3 1.0 7 1.3 3.9 3.9 41
150.9 | 152.5 13 & WW 47 41 3.8
152.3 | 154.3 1.0 7 1.3 41 40 44
142.2 | 144.3 a 4 15 3.5 3.2 3.7
144.8 | 146.1 14 9 3 3.2 37 35
142.3 | 143.7 A 7 1.0 23 3.2 38
138.6 | 139.8 0 9 a 2.0 27 3.6
147.1 148.7 1.0 5 14 29 37 38
147.4 | 149.2 8 5 1.2 29 37 40
Electric, gas, and-sanitary services 143.0 | 146.6 | 148.1 12 5 1.0 3.0 38 36
Wholesale and retail trade 143.8 | 147.4 | 148.4 13 7 7 44 3.8 3.2
Excluding sales 145.2 | 149.0 | 150.7 13 5 V1 41 4.0 3.8
Wholesale trade 147.4 | 151.6 | 151.6 & 13 xt) 48 35 28
Excluding sales 147.9 | 153.2 | 154.9 1.0 13 Ww 42 46 47
Retail trade ., 142.1 145.2 | 146.9 18 3 1.2 43 40 3.4
General merchandise stores 1878 | 1422 | 143.8 8 1.8 11 3.1 4.0 44
Food stores .. 136.7 | 141.6 | 143.3 1.3 1.0 1.2 37 5.0 48
Finance, insurance, and real estate 148.7 | 151.7 | 153.9 24 Oo 15 84 45 35
Excluding sales ... 150.2 | 154.1 156.6 15 5 1.6 65 41 43
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies 162.0 | 165.7 | 169.4 15 4 22 10.9 3.8 46
145.5 | 150.8 | 152.4 28 a 41 5.9 66 47
143.2 | 146.5 | 148.3 11 5 1.2 29 35 3.6
1474 | 151.8 | 153.8 1.0 8 1.3 37 4.0 43
152.0 | 156.0 | 158.2 15 5 14 45 41 44
143.5 | 148.1 149.8 a) 1.0 1 35 4’ 44
141.8 | 146.8 | 148.5 6 1.3 1.2 3.1 42 47
- - = 13 12 17 43 5.8 6.2
148.9 | 154.3 | 155.4 5 6 7 35 41 44
148.9 | 152.9 | 154.1 7 3 8 3.3 3.4 35

‘See footnotes at end of table.


ll

Table 5. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for ci
industry and occupational group

in and State and local government workers, by

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—

" 3 iths
Industry and occu group Mar Dee Mar. months ended— 12 months ended—

2000 | 2000 | 2001 | Mar. | Dec. | Mar. | Mar. | Dec. | Mar.
2000 | 2000 | 2001 | 2000 | 2000 | 2001

Civilian workers .... 144.0 | 147.9 | 149.5 WA 0.6 Wd 40 38 3.8
Excluding sales occupations 143.7 | 147.7 | 149.4 1.0 7 1.2 3.8 3.8 4.0
Industry

Goods producing! . 141.3 | 145.3 | 147.0 14 7 1.2 3.7 40 40

Manufacturing 142.9 | 146.5 | 148.5 1.0 5 1.4 3.6 35 3.9

Service producing? 145.0 | 148.9 | 150.5 1.0 & V4 42 3.8 3.8

Services ... 146.6 | 151.0 | 152.6 8 7 Vw 3.6 3.8 41

Health services 143.8 | 148.3 | 149.8 9 Wa 1.0 3.6 44 42

Hospitals 1426 | 147.3 | 148.8 7 1.2 1.0 3.3 4.0 43

Educational services .. 145.3 | 149.6 | 150.5 4 5 6 3.6 34 3.6

Public administration3 142.5 | 146.1 147.6 7 1.0 1.0 44 33 3.6

Nonmanufacturing .. wvssesssesneee| 144.2 | 148.1 149.7 Ww & Ww 42 3.9 3.8

Occupational group

150.2 | 151.7 1 7 1.0 44 39 3.8

150.4 | 152.1 1.0 7 1B) 41 3.9 40

149.6 | 151.1 6 a) 1.0 3.4 3.9 43

Executive, administrative, and managerial 5. 152.4 | 154.0 1.0 5 1.0 49 35 3.6

Administrative support, including clerical 1455 | 149.6 | 151.6 14 7 13 3.9 43 42

Blue collar 139.2 | 142.9 | 144.7 a) 6 13 3.5 3.6 4.0

Service 143.0 | 147.1 148.6 2 1.0 1.0 3.4 38 3.9

‘State and local government... 144.3 | 1483 | 149.3 6 7 7 3.8 33 3.5

Industry

Services ... 144.6 | 148.7 | 149.5 4 5 5 3.7 3.3 3.4

Excluding schools .. 144.3 | 147.9 | 149.1 8 8&8 8&8 3.8 3.3 3.3

Health services 145.3 | 149.3 | 149.9 & 11 4 4.0 35 3.2

itals: 145.3 | 149.2 | 149.5 8&8 1.0 2 40 35 29

Educational services .. 1445 | 148.7 | 149.5 3 5 5 3.6 3.3 3.5

Schools ... 144.7 | 148.9 | 149.7 3 5 5 3.7 3.3 3.5

Elementary and secondary 144.5 | 148.5 | 149.0 3 A 3 3.6 34 3.1

Colleges and universities .. 144.9 | 149.5 | 151.4 3 8 1.3 3.8 35 45

Public administration’ .... 142.5 | 146.1 147.6 7 1.0 1.0 41 3.3 3.6

144.1 148.0 | 149.0 5 6 a 3.7 3.2 3.4

144.3 | 148.2 | 149.1 5 5 6 3.9 3.2 3.3

Executive, administrative, and managerial...) 144.9 | 148.8 | 150.1 4 1.0 2 3.4 3.1 3.6

Administrative support, including clerical 1424 | 146.2 | 147.0 5 8&8 5 3.6 32 3.2

Blue collar 144.5 | 145.1 146.0 6 8 & 3.4 34 3.2

Service .. 146.4 | 151.2 | 152.8 5 1 V1 3.8 38 44
7 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. ubjic administration.

2 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and activities of State and local govemments, SICs 91 through 96.


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—
i. 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar, Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Private industry workers ..... 150.9 | 153.0 15 07 1.4 46 44 42
Excluding sales occupations 150.9 | 153.0 14 7 14 43 44 44
Industry

Goods producing? 1448 | 1488 | 1507] 16 6) 13) 42] 44] 44
Excluding sales 144.2 | 148.2 | 150.1 17 7 1.3 43 45 41
151.9 | 154.5 18 4 17 45 44 43
150.5 | 153.0 18 6 17 44 46 44
146.8 | 148.2 15 7 1.0 42 43 3.8
146.7 | 148.2 15 4 10 3.8 5.8 5.3
149.3 | 151.3 17 4 1.3 44 4.0 3.6
151.5 | 154.2 16 a 18 45 3.9 4.0
149.7 | 152.2 17 3 1.7 44 4A 41
147.8 |. 149.1 1.6 7 9 43 40 3.3
150.1 151.8 Ww 5 11 47 42 3.6
155.3 | 159.8 29 29 76 57 57
White collar .... 151.2 | 157.3 35 4.0 68 67 7.3
Blue collar ..... 160.4 | 161.9 22 “J 9 9.4 3.9 26
Nondurabies ... vevwwsense| 144.9 | 147.7 | 150.4 15 A 1.8 3.8 34 3.8
161.7 | 153.8 14 7 1.4 46 44 43
152.2 | 154.6 12 7 1.6 42 43 47
153.7 | 155.8 16 7 14 49 46 44
155.1 157.5 13 8 15 45 46 48
145.3 | 147.7 14 & 17 41 3.9 42
147.9 | 149.6 8 Wt 14 34 3.9 42
148.3.) 150.5 14 6 15 3.0 42 46
143.9 | 145.4 6 8 1.0 2.6 3.2 3.6
154.1 157.3 Ww 4 21 3.6 55 5.9
154.7 | 158.3 16 5 23 3.6 6.0 67
153.4 | 156.0 1.9 3 17 38 5.0 48
149.4 | 151.0 15 7 qt 48 41 37
150.6 | 152.6 15 7 13 46 44 42
154.4 | 155.1 1.0 15 5 5.1 4.0 3.4
154.9 | 156.9 15 1.4 1.3 5A 5 49
146.6 | 148.7 18 3 1.4 47 42 3.8
144.4 | 147.3 1.0 15 2.0 35 44 5.4
144.5 | 146.1, 14 8 14 43 46 43
Finance, insurance, and real estate 155.7 187.9 25 3 14 74 5.0 3.9
Excluding sales .......... 154.2 | 158.4 | 161.2 17 & 1.8 5.9 45 45

Banking, savings and loan, and other
credit agencies x 166.5 | 170.8 18 4 26 9.3 42 5.0
155.2 | 157.6 28 3 15 58 64 51
153.1 155.6 16 6 1.6 34 41 41
154.1 156.5 12 8 1.6 41 44 48
158.4 | 160.5 15 6 13 45 43 41
150.6 | 152.7 11 441 14 3.8 44 47
151.1 153.5 8 13 1.6 3.3 45 5.3
= - 13 15 18 42 6.1 6.6
. 159.9 | 162.3 a 7 15 3.8 45 54
Colleges and universities .. 154.6 | 159.2 | 162.2 8 4 1.9 3.6 38 49

‘See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

Chart A. Changes in wages and salaries | | Chart B. Changes in compensation,
and benefit costs, private industry seasonally adjusted and not seasonally

Wages & salaries Benefits adjusted, private industry
7 ” Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted

12-month percent change
uti 3-month percent change
Ef 3.57%
127 {
3

107

25
sy 2
6F 15
at ' 1
ar anal 05
oy Lidia bibl oy Lid
81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 OL 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 OL

Chart C. Changes in benefit costs by Chart D. Changes in benefit costs by
occupational category, private industry | | industry sector, private industry

White-collar Blue-collar Goods-producing — Service-producing

12-month percent change 12-month percent change

FPO FOYE FOP FPR FOP FPP FP FO FPP PPT FP PPP FP FOP FRY FORT FPN FPOT PPT FOP FO POY PPT PPT PP FT PTT

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1



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 Mar. Dec. Mar.

2000 2000 2001 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001

Civilian workers ........ 1526 | 156.9 | 150.7] 21 07 18 | 50] 49] 47
State and local government 148.2 | 1502 | 1623} 1.0 8 14 32] 24] 28
Private industry 1538 | 1586 | 1615 | 24 7 18] 55] 56} 50

Industry
Goods producing! 1523 | 1562 | 1585 | 28 3 15} 56] 54] 441
Service producing? .. 154.0 | 159.4 | 1626 | 22 9| 20] 54] sa] 56
Manufacturing .. 1523 | 154.8 | 157.1 3.0 “A 15] 64 47 | 32
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 161.9 | 163.1 | 1714] 52] -33] 51] 135] 60] 59
White collar .. 1568 | 1628 | 1750] 62] -16] 75 | 110] 103] 116
Blue collar 1692 | 1627 | 1650] 38] -61 14] 173 -2| 25

Nonmanufacturing 154.0 | 159.7 | 162.9 22 1.0 2.0 5.3 6.0 58

Occupational group

White Collar «enn 1863 | 1615 | 1652 | 25 z{ 23] 587] so| sz
Blue collar «reson 150.0 | 1541 | 1557 | 26 7} to} ss] sa] 38
Service .. 1508 | 1664 | t505]° 6 | 13] 20] 31] 43] 58
Bargaining status :
1537 | 1875 | 1585 | 27 A 6{| 54] 52/ 34
1536 | 1586 | 1620 | 24 e| eat] 55] 57] 55
1 includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service

2 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; industries.


17

newly updated seasonal adjustment factors. The historical data for the last five years are then revised based on
the newly estimated factors. The new seasonal factors for 2001 and revised seasonally adjusted indexes for the
past five years are available on-the Internet site (http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) or upon request. The
factors are also published in the summer issue of Compensation and Working Conditions.

The ECI sample is rotated over approximately five years, which makes the sample more representative
and reduces respondent burden. The sample is replaced on a cross-area, cross-industry basis and is now
integrated with the Bureau’s National Compensation Survey (NCS). Integrated samples have resulted in an
increase in the number of private industry establishments and occupations in the survey.

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. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of series, the five-
year moving average of standard errors for all estimates (excluding seasonally adjusted series) will be
available on the Internet site (http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) shortly after publication of the news release.

When determining data to be used in contract negotiations, it is important to note that differences by
bargaining status may be due to factors other than union 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. An important consideration when choosing a
series for escalation is the number of workers covered. Series with smaller number of workers may have
larger sampling errors or be dominated by a smaller number of employers.

More detailed information on the ECI is available from several sources. These include an annual
bulletin--Employment Cost Indexes, 1975-99, (Bulletin 2532), a chapter, “National Compensation Measures,”
in the BLS Handbook of Methods (Bulletin 2490), and several articles published in the Monthly Labor Review
and Compensation and ompensation and Working Conditions. The bulletin is 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) 691-6199 or sending e-mail to (ocltinfo@bls.gov). Current
and historical data are available at the web site: (http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).

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 2000," and
in a bulletin, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, 1986-99, (Bulletin 2526). 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.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice
phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service Number: 1-800-877-8339.


3

Compensation costs for nonunion. workers rose 4.3 percent over the year, compared with 3.4 percent for
union workers. In service-producing industries, nonunion compensation increased 4.3 percent, compared with
a 3.6 percent increase for union workers. In goods-producing industries, the increase for nonunion workers
was 4.3 percent, compared with a 3.2 percent gain for union workers. Compensation in blue-collar
occupations rose 4.2 percent for nonunion workers and 3.4 percent for union workers. (See table 4.)

State and local government

In State and local government, the March 2001 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 3.5
percent, compared with a 3.8 percent increase recorded for March 2000. The 12-month gain in benefit costs
for March 2001 was 2.8 percent; in March 2000, the gain was 3.2 percent. (See tables B, 5 and 8.)

NOTES:

This.release includes annual revisions in seasonally adjusted Employment Cost Index (ECI) data for
total compensation, wages and salaries, and benefit costs. Seasonally adjusted data for 1996-2000 were
revised to reflect updated seasonal factors. The new seasonal factors and historical listing containing revised
seasonally adjusted indexes are available on the Internet site (http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) or upon
request.

The ECT for June 2001 is scheduled to be released Thursday, July 26, 2001, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

ECI data are available on the ECI home page (http://www.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 Intemet site, send e-mail to (labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov). For
ECT data requests, send e-mail to (ocltinfo@bls.gov).

The ECI news release is available through an e-mail subscription service. See the subscription link on

(http://www.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) or :/Iwww.bls.gov/newsrels.htm).

News releases and other information are available from the BLS fax-on-demand service. To request a
document fax, call (202) 691-6325. 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 4115
Tables 5-7 4120
Table 8 4125

Explanatory notes 4190



2

The 3-month increase in compensation costs and wages and salaries for private industry workers was 1.1
percent during the December 2000-March 2001 period. Compensation costs rose 0.9 percent and wages and
salaries gained 0.8 during the December 2000 quarter. Benefit costs showed a 3-month rise of 1.4 percent
during the March 2001 quarter, compared with a 1.1 percent gain during the December 2000 quarter. (See
tables A and 1.)

Compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 1.0 percent during the December
2000-March 2001 period; in the September-December 2000 period, the increase was 0.8 percent. Wages and
salaries rose 1.0 percent in the quarter ended in March 2001, following a gain of 0.8 percent in the December
2000 quarter. Benefit costs rose 1.2 percent during the March 2001 quarter, an increase from the 0.7 percent
gain in the December 2000 quarter. As was true with private sector workers, the increase in benefit costs was
due, in part, to increases in employer costs for health insurance.

Over-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) increased 4.1 percent for the 12
months ended in March 2001. This compares with over-the-year increases of 4.3 percent in March 2000 and
3.0 percent in March 1999. Compensation costs in private industry rose 4.2 percent in the year ended March
2001, compared with increases of 4.6 percent in March 2000 and 3.0 percent in March 1999, In State and
local government, compensation costs increased 3.3 percent for the year ended March 2001; over-the-year
increases were 3.6 percent in March 2000 and 2.9 percent in March 1999. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Nonfarm private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 3.8 percent for the year ended March 2001, after increasing
4.2 percent in the year ended March 2000. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private industry workers
increased 5.0 percent for the year ended in March 2001, following an increase of 5.5 percent in March 2000.
(See chart A and tables B and 8.)

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 4.3 percent for white-collar
occupations, 3.9 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 4.2 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, increases in compensation costs ranged from 2.3 percent for sales workers to 5.3 percent
for professional specialty and technical occupations. (See table 3.)

Table B. 12-month percent changes i loyment Cost Index, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. = Mar.

Compensation Component 1996 _ 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Civilian workers _

Compensation costs 2.8 29 3.3 3.0 43 41
Wages and salaries 3.1 3.3 3.7 3.3 4.0 3.8
Benefit costs 1.8 2.0 2.2 23 5.0 47

Private industry ,

Compensation costs 27 3.0 3.5 3.0 46 42
Wages and salaries 3.2 3.4 4.0 3.3 42 3.8
Benefit costs 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.2 5.5 5.0

State and local government

Compensation costs ~ 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.9 3.6 3.3
Wages and salaries 2.8 2.8 2.8 29 3.8 3.5
Benefit costs 2.7 2.0 1.7 2.8 3.2 2.8

For the year ended March 2001, the compensation cost increase was 4.1 percent for goods-producing
industries, compared with a 4.2 percent increase for the year ended March 2000. The over-the-year increase in
compensation for service-producing industries was 4.3 percent, compared with a 4.6 percent increase for the
year ended March 2000. Among service-producing industry divisions, March 2000-to-March 2001 increases
ranged from 3.4 percent in wholesale trade to 6.7 percent in communications. (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—
3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 | 2000 2001 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
2000 2000 2001 2000 2000 2001
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industri 143.9 | 147.9 149.5 13 07 V4 44 4A 39
White collar .... wf 146.5 | 150.6 | 152.3 12 7 Wt 46 44 40
Excluding sales .. 147.4 | 151.9 | 153.9 1.0 8 1.3 44 44 44
Biue collar 137.4 | 140.9 | 142.8 12 4 13 38 3.8 3.9
Service .... 140.9 | 144.7 | 146.0 1.0 9 2 3.2 37 3.6
Occupational group
White collar ... 146.6 | 150.6 | 152.3 1.2 6 Wa 45 40 3.9
Excluding sales .. 146.7 | 151.1 153.0 1.0 8 13 4.0 44 43
Professional specialty and technical 145.1 150.2 } 152.1 7 Wa 1.3 34 42 48
Executive, administrative, and managerial 149.2 | 153.0 | 154.7 iol 5 an) 5.1 37 37
Sales ... 146.7 | 148.7 | 149.2 24 72 3 6.8 38 17
Administrative support, including
clerical .. 146.0 | 150.1 152.3 15 7 15 4.0 44 43
Blue collar ..... 139.1 142.8 | 144.6 1.0 6 13 3.6 37 4.0
Precision production, craft, and repai 138.9 | 1428 | 144.6 1.0 6 1.3 3.4 39 44
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors 140.7 | 143.7 | 145.6 9 & 13 3.7 3.0 35
Transportation and mat ing 134.1 137.6 | 139.5 Wa 8 14 3.9 37 40
Handiers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers ..... 141.8 | 146.2 | 148.0 1.0 8 1.2 33 41 44
Service ... 141.0 | 144.9 | 146.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 34 38 3.8
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations$ 142.1 146.0 | 147.7 12 7 1.2 3.9 40 3.9
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Hourly Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.

2 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
3 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.


16

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Employment Cost Index (ECT) 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 referral bonuses and 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 private nonfarm economy
excluding households and the public sector excluding 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 31,900 occupational
observations within about 7,500 sample establishments in private industry and approximately 3,800
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. Details on the sample design
are included in the bulletin, Employment Cost Indexes, 1975-99, (Bulletin 2532). Within an establishment,
specific job categories are selected and classified into about 500 occupational classifications according to the
1990 Census of Population. Individual occupations are combined into broader occupational groups. Fixed
employment weights are used each quarter to calculate the most aggregate series — 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. For more information on these topics, see the articles, “Introducing New
Weights for the Employment Cost Index,” in the June 1985 issue of the Monthly Labor Review and
“Introducing 1990 Weights for the Employment Cost Index” in the June 1995 issue of Compensation and

Working Conditions.

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
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. For more information on the methodology
used to seasonally adjust ECI series, see the bulletin, Employment Cost Indexes, 1975-99, (Bulletin 2532).
The seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated once a year. The March release contains data reflecting the