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—
Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. bec Mat 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Bargaining status
Union .. 129.6 133.1 133.6 0.5 05 0.4 29 3.3 34
Blue-collar occupations 127.2 130.6 | 131.2 4 5 5 29 34 34
Goods-producing industries’ 127.9 | 131.7 | 132.3 6 5 5 3.1 3.6 3.4
‘Service-producing industries? .. 131.8 | 134.8 | 135.4 5 5 A 28 27 27
Manufacturing ... 129.6 | 133.0 133.6 8 6 5 3.2 34 3.1
Blue-collar occupations . 132.4 | 133.0 5 8 5 29 34 3.1
Nonmanufacturing ... 129.6 | 133.1 133.7 4 5 5 28 34 3.2
Nonunion ... 134.5 138.3 | 139.0 1 7 5 42 4.0 3.3
Blue-collar occupations .. 132.0 | 134.8 | 136.2 V1 6 1.0 3.5 3.2 3.2
Goods-producing industries 133.6 | 136.5 | 137.8 12 6 1.0 3.6 3.4 3.4
Service-producing industries? 134.6 | 138.8 | 139.3 14 7 4 43 42 35
Manufacturing ... 135.1 138.2 | 130.4 1.2 7 9 37 35 3.2
Blue-collar occupations... 134.4 137.2 138.5, qt 7 9 35 3.2 34
Nonmanufacturing ... 134.0 138.0 | 138.6 qa 7 4 43 44 3.4
Region?
132.6 | 136.4 | 137.1 8 7 5 3.0 3.6 3.4
134.0 | 136.7 | 137.9 8 A 9 43 28 29
134.7 | 138.0 | 138.9 13 4 7 44 3.8 3.41
132.9 138.4 138.2 1.3 12 1 44 55 40
Area
133.8 | 137.7 | 138.3 14 6 4 4.0 44 3.4
132.5 136.0 | 137.1 4 1.0 8 38 3.0 3.5
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, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii,
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
industries. Wyoming.

‘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, 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: llinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,


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 Percent changes for 3-months ended—
1989=100) 8
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.
1998 1999 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers ... 139.7 140.2 08 0.8 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.4
State and local government 139.5 140.4 5 5 7 7 7 7 7 6
Private industry 139.7 140.2 & 8 Ww 7 a 1.0 7 4
Industry
Goods producing? 137.9 | 138.9 2 7 4 7 8 7 Ss 7
Construction? 134.6 135.9 8&8 6 5 7 1.2 4 12 1.0
Manufacturing 138.9 | 139.8 8 7 & 7 6 7 6 6
Durables 139.2 | 140.0 8 6 6 7 6 7 6 6
Nondurables .. 138.4 | 139.5 1.0 7 7 8 6 8 5 8
Service producing? ... | 140.6 | 140.7 8 8 14 7 9 1.2 8 A
Transportation and public utilitiesS | 139.5 | 139.5 6 8 ni 9 12 a 7 0
Wholesale trade? .. 143.1 142.6 6 7 6 1.6 & 17 16 +3
Retail trade .... 135.9 | 136.9 8 a 2 9 8 1.0 2 7
Finance, insurance, and real
estateS.6 ., 142.5 141.5 6 9 3.1 1.6 12 1.9 11 -7
Services .. 142.8 | 143.5 9 8 12 5 8 3 8 5
Nonmanufacturing .... 139.9 | 140.2 8 8 1.4 8 2 1 9 2
Occupational group
White collar 142.3 142.3 8&8 7 14 7 1.0 ar a) 0
Blue collar 136.1 137.0 8 7 7 5 38 7 7 7
Service 137.6 | 139.1 9 15 8 3 7 8 5 1
WAGES AND SALARIES
Civilian workers ... 138.3 9 8 V1 9 a ini 7 5
State and local government 139.0 6 8 7 7 7 7 8 6
Private industry .. 137.5 | 138.1 ce) a ani 9 1.0 12 7 A
Industry
Goods producing26 .. 135.2 | 136.3 44 8 5 Ww 2 8 7 8
Construction$ 129.5 | 131.0 9 8 6 1.0 13 2 1.0 12
ManufacturingS 136.8 | 137.9 9 8 7 14 7 1.0 6 8
Durables® 136.9 | 137.9 9 8 5 1 8 1.0 a 7
Nondurables 137.0 | 137.8 1.0 8 1.0 3 6 1.0 7 6
Service producing ... | 138.5 | 138.9 a 1.0 1.4 3 a) 1.4 7 3
Transportation and public utilitiesS | 135.1 135.2 7 9 9 5 8 1.0 6 A
Wholesale trade’ .. 141.4 | 140.8 3 8 5 1.9 4 1.8 15 4
Retail trade ... 135.1 136.3 a 9 1.0 8 9 13 A 9
Finance, insurance, and real
estate36 . 139.8 | 137.2 6 e) 3.3 15 17 24 1.2 1.9
Services 140.9 142.4 11 1 13 7 a Ww 7 3
Nonmanufacturing .... 137.6 137.9 a) a 14 8 1.0 1.2 1.0 2

‘See footnotes at end of table.



18
‘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 an annual bulletin--
Employment Cost Indexes and Levels, 1975-97, (Bulletin 2504), a chapter in the BLS Handbook of Methods
(ulletin 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
(ocltinfo@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

Tabie 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—
ink i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Bargaining status
Union .. 134.0 | 137.5 | 138.0 0.4 05 0.4 23 3.0 3.0
Blue-collar occupations 131.8 | 135.3 | 135.6 2 5 2 2.2 28 29
Goods-producing industries? 132.7 | 136.5 | 136.8 2 7 2 24 3.0 3.4
Service-producing industries? .. 135.3 | 138.5 | 139.2 6 4 5 2.6 3.0 29
Manufacturing ... 133.6 | 136.9 | 137.0 2 7 a 24 27 25
Blue-collar occupations 133.1 136.4 | 136.5 1 7 a 2.0 26 26
Nonmanufacturing ... 133.9 | 137.4 | 138.1 5 4 5 25 32 3.1
Nonunion .. 136.7 140.1 140.8 1.0 6 5 3.7 3.5 3.0
Blue-collar occupations 133.8 136.3 137.6 9 6 1.0 3.0 28 28
Goods-producing industries? 135.9 138.3 139.7 a) 4 1.0 3.0 27 28
Service-producing industries? .. 136.7 | 140.6 | 141.1 1.0 6 4 4.0 3.9 3.2
Manufacturing ... 137.2 139.4 | 140.7 1.0 4 9 3.1 26 26
Blue-collar occupations 136.0 138.3 | 139.5 eS) 7 9 29 26 26
Nonmanufacturing 136.3 | 140.0 | 140.6 1.0 6 4 4.0 3.8 3.2
Region?
136.0 | 139.5 | 140.5 7 6 7 29 3.3 3.3
135.5 138.1 139.1 7 4 7 3.6 26 27
138.3 | 141.4 | 141.7 1.0 A 2 3.8 3.3 25
135.2 | 140.0 | 140.3 1.3 Wt 2 3.8 49 3.8
Area
136.4 | 139.8 | 140.4 1.0 5 A 3.6 35 29
135.9 | 139.4 | 140.5 A 9 8 34 3.0 3.4

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

a Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

3 includes jortation, 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: 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.


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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Civilian workers .. 136.3 139.8 140.4 08 0.6 0.4 3.3 3.4 3.0
Excluding sales occupations 136.4 139.5 140.5 8 5 7 3.3 34 3.0
Industry
Goods producing? 135.1 137.9 139.0 7 5 8 27 28 29
Manufacturing 136.4 | 138.9 | 139.9 8 5 7 29 27 2.6
Service producing? . 1368 | 140.4 | 140.9 1.0 6 4 36 36 3.0
Services 138.3 | 141.7 | 1423 5 6 4 3.4 3.0 29
Health services 138.0 | 139.1 140.5 a 0 1.0 24 9 1.8
Hospitals .. 137.1 140.2 | 141.3 3 6 8 22 26 3.1
Educational services .. 137.5 | 141.0 | 141.3 4 6 2 26 29 28
Public administration+ 136.4 139.9 140.8 1.0 7 & 26 3.6 3.2
Nonmanufacturing ... 136.2 | 139.9 | 140.5 8 6 4 3.4 3.6 3.2
Occupational group
White collar 137.7 | 141.4 | 141.9 a) 6 4 35 36 34
Excluding 138.1 141.2 142.2 9 4 7 34 3.1 3.0
Professional specialty and technical 137.5 | 141.0 | 141.3 6 7 2 28 34 28
Executive, administrative, and managerial 139.1 141.8 143.5, 13 1 1.2 44 3.3 3.2
Administrative support, including clerical 138.0 | 141.3 | 142.5 8 6 8 3.3 32 3.3
133.2 136.1 137.1 & 6 7 26 28 29
136.9 140.0 141.3 1.0 4 3 37 32 3.2
State and local government .... 136.5 | 139.8 | 140.5 6 6 5 25 3.0 29
Industry
Services 136.5 | 139.7 | 140.0 4 5 2 25 27 26
Excluding schoois5.6 136.1 138.8 | 139.6 6 a 6 27 26 26
Health services 137.9 | 140.7 | 141.2 5 3 4 25 26 24
Hospitals ... 138.4 | 141.2 | 141.7 6 4 4 27 26 24
Educational services .. 136.3 | 139.6 | 139.9 3 & 2 24 27 26
Schools ..... 136.6 | 139.9 | 140.2 3 6 2 24 27 26
Elementary and secondary .. 136.1 139.3 | 139.6 2 A 2 23 26 26
Colleges and universities 137.9 | 141.5 | 141.7 5 1.0 1 27 34 28
Public administration$ .... 136.4 | 139.9 | 140.8 1.0 7 6 26 3.6 3.2
Occupational group
136.1 139.3 | 139.8 4 7 4 24 28 27
pe 135.6 | 1385 | 138.8 4 6 2 23 25 24
Executive, administrative, and managerial 137.5 | 141.6 | 142.6 8 a) 7 25 3.8 37
Administrative support, including clerical 136.9 | 1403 | 141.4 6 6 8 27 3.1 3.3
135.0 | 137.8 | 138.8 6 7 7 22 27 28
139.4 | 143.4 | 144.3 12 3 6 28 44 35

1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.
3 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and
‘administration.
4 ‘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 Intemet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm).
All series will continue to be published until further notice.

& Formeriy 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)

ee oO) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.
1998 1999 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999
WAGES AND SALARIES—Continued
Occupational group
White collar 140.1 140.2 08 1.0 14 09 1.0 14 0.9 04
Blue collaré 133.2 | 134.3 1.0 8 6 a) 8 8 6 8
Service .... 135.1 136.7 9 1.6 9 8 8 8 6 1.2
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers ... 144.6 | 145.0 5 4 g 4 7 7 6 3
State and local government 142.7 143.5 2 JA 5 7 7 9 & 6
Private industry .. 145.1 145.4 6 4 1.0 4 7 6 7 2
industry
Goods producing? 143.4 | 144.4 6 5 2 “1 5 4 3 7
Manufacturing 142.8 143.6 7 4 3 “A 4 3 1 6
Service producing ... 146.1 145.9 6 4 15 5 8 8 9 oA
Nonmanufacturing 146.1 146.2 A 5 12 6 8 8 8 1
Occupational group
White collar 147.7 | 147.7 6 4 13 5 7 8 8 0
Blue collar 141.6 142.5 4 6 2 3 6 4 5 &
Service 144.9 | 146.3 9 1.2 & 8&8 3 6 3 1.0
3 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Intemet site (http://stats.bis.goviecthome.htm). All series will continue to be
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Published until further notice.
Average standard errors (SE) for the unadjusted series upon which this 4 ‘Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
series is based exceeded 0.9 percent for S-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. Boocing. 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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Industry—Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 136.0 | 139.7 | 140.3 1.0 0.6 0.4 3.7 3.7 3.2
White collar 137.9 | 142.0 | 142.3 1.0 6 2 3.9 4.0 3.2
Excluding sales 139.3 | 142.7 | 143.7 1.0 5 7 4.0 35 3.2
Blue collar 131.0 | 134.0 | 135.2 7 4 9 27 3.0 3.2
Service 134.9 ) 137.7 | 139.2 8 6 441 43 29 3.2
Occupational group
White collar .. 138.1 142.0 | 142.4 1.0 6 3 3.8 3.9 31
Excluding sales 138.8 | 141.9 | 143.0 1.0 4 8 38 3.3 3.0
Professional specialty and technical 138.8 142.6 142.9 7 7 2 3.1 35 3.0
Executive, administrative, and managerial 139.4 141.8 143.7 15 -1 1.3 48 3.2 3.1
Sales? 135.3 | 142.6 | 139.6 13 1.6 2.4 4.0 68 3.2
Administrative support, including
clerical .. 138.2 141.4 142.6 9 6 8 3.4 32 3.2
Blue collar ..... 133.1 135.9 | 136.9 6 5 7 27 27 29
Precision production, craft, and repair 132.9 | 136.1 137.2 8 5 8 25 32 3.2
Machine operators, assemblers, and .
inspectors 133.6 | 136.8 | 137.3 5 8 A 28 29 28
Transportation and material moving 129.3 130.7 131.6 3 0 7 25 14 18
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers w.| 187.0 | 189.2 | 141.0 9 5 1.3 32 25 29
Service .... 135.3 | 138.0 | 139.5 g 5 Ww 42 29 3.1
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations’ .. 135.3 | 139.0 | 139.3 8 7 2 3.2 3.6 3.0
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. corrected data will be available May 18, 1999.
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 5 includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
3-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years © Estimates for transportation and public utilities reflect the changes in
ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the SIG coding. See Explanatory Notes for further information.
series, SEs for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted ‘This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

‘series) will be available on the Intemet site (httpz//stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm). Hourly Eamings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
All series will continue to be published until further notice.

4 Due to an error in the data, estimates for December 1998 and March
1999 have been suppressed. Indexes and percent changes reflecting the NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.


United States es .
f Department Y
of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical Contact: USDL: 99-117
(202) 606-6199 ocltinfo@bls.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, APRIL 29, 1999

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—MARCH 1999

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for March 1999 was 140.4 (June 1989=100), an
increase of 3.0 percent from March 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.

uarterly changes. adjusted

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers (private
nonfarm industry plus state and local government) was 0.4 percent during the December 1998-March 1999
period, following a gain of 0.7 percent in December. The gain for wages and salaries was 0.5 percent during
the December 1998-March 1999 period and 0.7 percent in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 0.3
percent during the December 1998-March 1999 period and 0.6 percent in the September-December 1998
quarter. .

Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted
June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.
Compensation Component 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 _ 1999

Civilian workers
Compensation costs 08 0.8 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.9- 0.7 04
Wages and salaries 09 0.8 1.1 0.9 09 1.1 0.7 0.5
Benefit costs 0.5 04 0.9 0.4 0.7 07 0.6 0.3
Private industry
Compensation costs 0.8 0.8 11 0.7 09 1.0 0.7 0.4
Wages and salaries 0.9 0.9 11 09 1.0 1.2 0.7 04
Benefit costs ~ 06 0.4 1.0 04 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.2
State and local government
Compensation costs 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6
Wages and salaries 0.6 0.8 0.7 07 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.6
Benefit costs 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.6
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.
4998 | 1998 | 1999 | Mar. | Dec. | Mar. | Mar. | Dec. | Mar.
1908 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1998 | 1999
Private industry workers 133.7 | 137.4 | 138.1 14 06 05 4.0 3.9 3.3
Excluding sales occupations 133.7 | 136.9 | 138.2 1.0 4 2 4.0 34 3.4
Industry
Goods producing! 132.0 | 135.2 | 1363 14 z 8 3.5 35 33
Excluding sales 131.3 | 134.4 | 135.5 1.0 6 8 3.4 34 3.2
White collar .... 135.0 | 138.2 | 139.4 16 6 a 38 4.0 33
Excluding sale: 1333 | 136.4 | 137.8 13 5 1.0 34 3.6 34
Blue collar ... 130.1 | 1333 | 134.3 7 8 8 3.3 32 3.2
Construction? .. 126.0 | 129.3 | 130.7 i) 6 1 33 35 37
Manufacturing 133.7 | 1368 | 137.9 14 6 8 3.6 35 3.4
White collar 135.6 | 139.0 | 140.1 15 5 8 38 4.0 3.3
Excluding 133.8 | 137.1 | 138.3 12 6 9 35 37 34
Blue collar 1323 | 1353 | 1363 8 7 7 34 34 3.0
Durables 133.4 | 136.9 | 137.9 1 7 7 3.4 38 3.4
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 135.1 (3) (3) 8 (3) (3) 23 | (3) 3
White collar 131.2 | (3) (3) 14 (3) (3) 27 {| (3) (3)
Blue collar 140.1 (3) (3) 4 (3) (3) 4.7 4 (3) (3)
Nondurables 134.2 | 1368 | 138.0 12 6 x) 38 32 28
Service producing+ .4 | 138.4 | 1389 1.0 6 4 42 4.0 33
Excluding sales . 135.2 | 1385 | 139.8 1.0 4 9 42 34 34
White collar .... 135.7 | 140.1 | 140.3 1.0 6 4 43 43 34
Excluding sales .. 1373 | 140.7 | 142.0 1.0 4 9 44 35 34
Blue coliar 130.2 | 1329 | 134.4 1.0 4 14 33 3.4 3.2
Service 132.1 | 135.2 | 136.7 8 7 1 44 3.2 35
‘Transportation and public utilities® .. 132.1 | 135.1 | 135.4 6 6 2 3.0 29 25
Transportation2;e 130.1 | 1329 | 1323 5 4 -5 28 26 17
Public utilities 1345 | 137.8 | 139.2 7 1.0 1.0 34 3.2 35
Communications 134.4 | 138.0 | 139.4 3 1.0 1.0 35 3.0 37
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 134.7 | 137.4 | 138.9 14 8 141 33 34 3.1
Wholesale and retail trade 133.3 | 137.0 | 137.7 13 3 5 37 4a 3.3
Excluding sales .. 134.7 | 138.2 | 139.5 14 4 9 42 38 3.6
Wholesale trade? 136.2 | 141.3 | 140.7 19 14 -4 37 58 33
Excluding sales .. 1365 | 1408 | 141.9 14 x) 8 3.6 43 40
Retail trade .... 1319 | 1348 | 136.2 1.0 ~ 1.0 3.8 3.2 33
General merchandise stores? 129.4 | 1330 | 133.7 8 6 5 35 36 33
Food stores? .. .0 | 130.5 | 131.8 16 -9 1.0 34 28 22
Finance, insurance, and real estate? .. 139.8 | 137.2 15 12] 419 65 7.0 35
Excluding sales .... 139.6 | 141.0 17 “1 1.0 68 45 38
Banking, savings and loan, and other
credit agencies? 144.4 | 146.1 19 | -18 12 | 119 44 37
Insurance? 138.5 | 137.4 22 “1 8 44 64 3.2
Excluding sales 137.9 | 139.1 7 1.0 9 24 34 3.3
Services . 137.2 | 140.8 | 142.2 7 6 4.0 4a 34 3.6
Business service: 137.6 | 144.1 | 145.4 2 16 a 47 5.0 57
Health services .. 136.2 | 137.4 | 138.7 6 a1 2 28 15 18
Hospitals ... 133.6 | 1365 | 137.6 3 5 8 22 25 3.0
Nursing homes - - - 13 5 14 33 3.7 38
Educational services 143.5 | 143.9 5 3 3 3.4 37 35
Colleges and universities 143.6 | 144.1 3 6 3 3.3 35 3.6

See footnotes at end of table.



i

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—
" . 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.

1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Civilian workers ... 134.0 | 137.7 | 138.4 0.9 0.7 0.5 37 3.7 3.3
Excluding sales occupations 134.0 | 137.3 | 138.4 ] 5 8 37 3.4 3.3

Industry
Goods producing! 132.0 135.2 | 136.3 V1 6 8 3.4 35 3.3
Manufacturing 133.7 136.8 137.9 Wt 6 8 3.6 35 34
Service producing? 134.8 138.7 | 139.2 a) 7 4 3.9 38 3.3
Services .. 136.9 | 140.5 | 141.5 7 6 7 3.7 3.3 3.4
Health services .. 136.2 | 137.6 | 138.8 6 0 a) 29 16 1.9
Hospitals 134.2 137.4 138.1 4 5 7 24 26 29
Educational services 136.3 | 140.0 | 140.2 3 6 a 29 3.0 29
Public administration3 132.7 | 135.9 | 136.9 1.0 8 7 29 34 3.2
Nonmanufacturing ..... 134.0 | 137.8 | 138.4 9 6 4 3.8 38 3.3

Occupational group

White collar 135.6 | 139.7 | 140.1 1.0 6 3 3.8 40 3.3
Excluding sales .. 136.1 139.5 | 140.5 1.0 5 7 3.9 35 3.2
Professional specialty and technical 135.8 | 139.4 | 140.1 6 6 5 3.3 3.3 3.2
Executive, administrative, and manage! 137.4 | 140.3 | 141.6 1.3 A a 49 35 34
Administrative support, including clerical 135.0 | 138.6 | 140.0 1.0 8B 1.0 3.5 37 3.7
Blue collar 130.4 | 133.3 | 134.5 a 5 a 3.3 3.1 34
Service 133.7 | 137.0 | 138.3 8 7 a 4.0 3.3 3.4
‘State and local government ... 135.1 138.5 | 139.0 5 7 4 28 3.41 29

Industry
Services .. 135.7 | 139.2 | 139.5 3 6 2 27 29 28
Excluding schools4.5 135.4 | 138.2 | 139.0 7 3 6 3.2 28 27
Health services .. 136.3 | 139.2 | 139.7 7 4 4 3.2 29 25
Hospitals ... 136.3 | 139.1 139.7 8 4 4 3.3 29 25
Educational services 135.7 | 139.3 | 139.5 3 7 a 27 3.0 28
Schools .. 135.8 | 139.5 | 139.6 2 7 a 27 3.0 28
Elem 136.0 | 139.3 | 139.5 2 4 A 27 27 26
Colleges and universities 135.2 | 139.6 | 139.6 A 14 0 28 3.7 3.3
Public administration ... 132.7 | 135.9 | 136.9 1.0 8 7 29 3.4 3.2

Occupational group

White collar 135.0 | 138.5 | 138.9 4 7 3 27 3.0 29
Professional spé 135.5 | 138.7 | 138.9 3 6 a 27 27 25
Executive, administrative, and manageri 135.1 139.3 | 140.1 7 9 6 29 3.9 3.7
Administrative support, including clerical 133.0 | 136.5 | 137.4 5 8 7 29 32 3.3
Blue collar 133.1 136.0 | 136.9 6 7 7 27 28 29
Service 136.5 | 140.0 | 141.1 1.0 6 8 34 36 3.4

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

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

3 Includes executive, , judicial, administrative, and regulatory
aciyities of State and local govemments, SIC’s 91 through 96.

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

S-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 Intemet site (http./stats.bis.gov/ecthome.htm).
‘All seties will continue to be published until further notice.

Formerly called hospitals and other services.


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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 | 1998 | 1999 | Mar. | Dec. | Mar. | Mar. | Dec. | Mar.
1998 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1998 | 1999
Private industry workers ... 136.3 | 139.8 | 140.4 0.9 0.6 0.4 35 35 3.0
Excluding sales occupations 136.4 139.4 140.5 9 4 8 3.4 3.4 3.0
Industry
Goods producing? 135.1 | 137.8 | 138.9 z 5 8 28 28 28
Excluding sales . 1345 | 137.2 | 138.3 7 5 8 26 27 28
White collar ..... 137.7 | 140.2 | 141.7 14 4 14 3.1 29 29
Excluding sales . 1363 | 1388 | 140.4 1.0 4 12 28 28 3.0
Blue collar .. 133.5 | 1363 | 137.1 5 & 6 25 26 27
Constructions .. 130.6 | 1343 | 135.6 7 7 1.0 27 35 38
Manufacturing 136.4 | 138.9 | 139.9 8 5 7 29 27 26
White collar 138.2 | 140.5 | 141.8 11 3 x) 32 28 26
Excluding sales .. 136.5 | 138.7 | 140.1 9 3 1.0 28 25 26
Blue collar 135.0 | 137.7 | 138.5 5 7 & 25 25 26
Durables 136.5 | 139.2 | 139.9 6 5 5 26 26 25
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 1372 | (4) (4) 2 (4) (4) “A (4) (4)
White collar 134.7 | (4) (4) 3 | (4) (4) x) (4) (4)
Blue collar 139.6 | (4) (4) 0 (4) (4) 1.9 (4) 4)
Nondurables 1359 | 138.2 | 139.6 1.0 4 4.0 3.2 28 27
1367 | 1405 | 140.9 1.0 6 3 3.9 38 34
137.4 | 140.6 | 141.7 1.0 4 8 3.9 33 34
138.0 | 1422 | 142.3 1.0 7 1 40 44 34
1395 | 1428 | 143.8 1.0 4 7 44 34 34
1321 | 1348 | 136.2 rc) 4 1.0 3.0 3.0 34
135.0 | 137.8 | 139.3 8 6 14 42 29 3.2
Transportation and public utilities® .. 1358 | 139.3 | 139.7 12 6 3 34 38 29
Transportations.© 134.0 | 137.3 | 136.8 4 4 ~4 26 29 24
Public utilities .. 137.9 | 141.9 | 143.4 24 9 141 45 5.0 4.0
‘Communications 136.6 | 141.7 | 143.3 19 ) 1 49 57 49
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 139.6 | 142.1 | 143.4 23 8 a) 40 42 27
Wholesale and retail trade 134.7 | 138.2 | 138.9 14 4 5 35 40 3.4
Excluding sales .. 135.5 | 138.8 | 139.9 14 5 8 39 36 3.2
Wholesale trade? 137.7 | 142.8 | 142.7 19 14 -A 36 57 3.6
Excluding sales .. 137.0 | 141.2 | 142.4 12 x) 8 33 43 3.9
Retail trade ..... 133.1 | 135.6 | 1368 1 -2 x) 36 3.0 28
General merchandise stores? . 131.2 | 1340 | 135.0 a 6 7 38 34 29
Food stores? .. 131.3 | 132.7 | 1343 15 -7 12 24 26 23
Finance, insurance, and real estate 136.7 | 1425 | 1415 16 14 ~7 63 59 35
Excluding sales ..... 140.2 | 1433 | 145.6 19 a 16 66 44 3.9
Banking, savings and loan, and other
credit agencies ... 143.3 | 146.7 | 148.8 19) -14 14 97 43 3.8
Insurance’ ..... 137.4 | 141.7 | 141.7 19 ot 0 42 5.1 3.4
Excluding sales .. 140.0 | 1425 | 144.5 1.0 6 14 29 28 3.2
1393 | 142.7 | 1435 6 6 6 35 3.0 3.0
1395 | 145.9 | 147.5 6 17 1 47 53 57
138.2 | 139.0 | 140.5 1 0 14 2.0 2 17
136.7 | 139.9 | 141.2 1 & x) 2.0 25 33
- - - 8 & 13 27 3.2 3.6
143.4 | 147.7 | 148.3 6 5 4 35 36 3.4
1443 | 148.5 | 149.2 4 5 5 34 33 34

‘See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

Chart A. Changes in wages and salaries

and benefit costs, private industry

Wages & salaries Benefits

12-month percent change

Chart B. Changes in compensation,

seasonally adjusted and not seasonally
adjusted, private industry

Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted

3-month percent change

145
r 35> 4
12- a
r 3+
10- i
25°
8 7 2-4
6r 157
ar 1-
2F a 05 -
c Jtluuloloedowladelbal db beet, Ein PTY YS OEY FEY POET VET POYS VES PT ENTY VEY YTS POT CPT TNE PT OTT PET

80 . 82. 84. 86. 88.90 .92.94.96.98.

“Chart C. Changes in benefits by

occupational category, private industry

| White-collar Blue-collar

12-month percent change

QO) -lalabuctssalssatuslerstasdiarbealesalootiabaalssaly asa

80 . 82. 84. 86. 88. 90.92.94. 96.98.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Compensation Levels and Trends

10

80 . 82. 84. 86. 88.90.92.94.96.98.

Chart D. Changes in benefits by
industry sector, private industry _

Goods-producing Service-producing

12-month percent change

oN RE KR
T

Lil boslbbetelbetalanaeet Lelia
80 . 82. 84. 86. 88.90.92. 94. 96. 98.

March 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 Mar. Dec. Mar.

1998 1998 1999 Mar, Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1998 | 1999
Civilian workers .... 142.0 | 144.7 | 145.3 0.6 0.5 0.4 22 26 23
State and local government 139.7 | 1427 | 143.6 8 4 6 17 3.0 28
Private industry .. 142.6 | 1452 | 145.8 6 5 4 23 24 22

Industry

Goods producing’ 141.5 | 143.2 | 144.3 0 a 8 14 1.2 2.0
Service producing? 142.7 | 145.7 | 146.1 9 6 3 3.0 3.0 24
Manufacturing .. 141.7 | 1427 | 143.6 0 a 6 13 7 1.3

Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 1447 | (3) | (8) -9 | (3) | (8) 46} (3) | (9)

White collar 1429 | (3) | (8) 13 | (8) | (3) 27) (38) | (3)

Blue collar 139.0 | (3) (3) -4] (3) (3) 79 | (3) (3)
Nonmanufacturing 142.7 | 1458 | 146.3 8 & 3 27 3.0 25

Occupational group
White collar 144.7 | 147.4 | 147.9 9 5 3 28 28 22
Blue collar 139.1 | 141.6 | 142.2 a1 4 4 14 19 22
Service 143.3 | 1448 | 146.3 z: a 1.0 36 2.0 21
Bargaining status
Union 142.1 145.5 | 145.8 a 3 2 1.4 25 26
Nonunion 142.5 | 144.9 | 145.6 7 5 5 26 24 22
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 3 Due to an error in the data, estimates for December 1998 and March

2 includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; 1999 have been suppressed. Indexes and percent changes reflecting the
wholesale and retail rade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service _corrected data will be available May 18, 1999.
industries.


7

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 ECI 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 new 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 over approximately five years; this makes it more representative and reduces
respondent burden. The sample is replaced on a cross-area, cross-industry basis.

The costs per hour worked of compensation components, based on March 1998 data from the ECI, are
published in a separate news release titled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation - March 1998," 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 EC]. Therefore, year-to-year changes in the
cost levels will 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 (except for those in the section on quarterly changes) 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, as indicated above, standard errors for some series are large. The five-year moving average of
standard errors for all estimates (excluding seasonally adjusted series) will be available on the Intemet site
(http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm) shortly after publication of the news release.


3
The 3.0 percent over-the year increase in compensation costs for union workers in private industry was
the same as the 3.0 percent increase for nonunion workers. In service-producing industries, union
compensation increased 2.9 percent, and nonunion compensation increased 3.2 percent. In contrast, in goods-
producing industries, the increase for union workers was 3.1 percent, and the increase for nonunion workers
was 2.8 percent. Compensation in blue-collar occupations increased 2.9 percent for union workers and 2.8
percent for nonunion workers. (See table 4.)

State and local government

In state and local government, the March 1999 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 2.9
percent, similar to the 2.8 percent increase in March 1998. Benefit costs for March 1999 increased 2.8
percent. In March 1998, the increase was 1.7 percent. (See tables 5 and 8.)

NOTES:

This release includes annual revisions in seasonally adjusted Employment Cost Index (ECT) data for total
compensation, wages and salaries, and benefit costs. Seasonally adjusted data for 1994-1998 were revised to
reflect updated seasonal factors. The new seasonal factors for 1999, along with revised seasonally adjusted
indexes and 3-month percent changes for the past 5 years, are available on the Internet site

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

The ECI for June 1999 is scheduled to be released Thursday, July 29, 1999, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
The Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) for March 1999 is scheduled to be released
Thursday, June 24, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

EC] 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
ECTI 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 4115
Tables 5-7 4120
Table 8 4125

Explanatory notes 4190



2
The 3-month increase in compensation costs for private industry workers was 0.4 percent during the
December 1998-March 1999 period. The gain in wages and salaries was 0.4 percent in March; in December, it
was 0.7 percent. Benefit costs showed a 3-month rise of 0.2 percent during the March quarter and 0.7 percent
during the December period. (See tables A and 1.)

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 0.6 percent during the December
1998-March 1999 period, following a gain of 0.7 percent last quarter. Wages and salaries rose 0.6 percent in
March; in December 1998, the increase was 0.8 percent. Benefit costs increased 0.6 percent in the March
quarter, the same increase as reported in the December quarter. (See tables A and 1.)

Over-the-year changes. not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) increased 3.0 percent for the year
ended March 1999. This compares with over-the-year increases of 3.3 percent in March 1998 and 2.9 percent
in March 1997. Compensation costs in private industry also rose 3.0 percent in March 1999, following
increases of 3.5 percent in March 1998 and 3.0 percent in March 1997. Compensation costs for state and local
government increased 2.9 percent for the year ended March 1999. The over-the-year increase in both March
1998 and March 1997 was 2.5 percent. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Nonfarm private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 3.3 percent for the year ended March 1999. Wages and
salaries increased 4.0 percent in March 1998. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private industry workers
increased 2.2 percent for the year ended in March 1999, compared with 2.3 percent in March 1998. (See chart
A and tables B and 8.)

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 3.1 percent for white-collar
occupations, 2.9 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 3.1 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, rises in compensation costs ranged from 1.8 percent for transportation and material
moving occupations to 3.2 percent for sales, administrative support, including clerical, and precision
production, craft, and repair occupations. (See table 3.)

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

Compensation Component 1994 1995 1996 _ 1997 1998 1999
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 3.2 2.9 2.8 29 3.3 3.0
Wages and salaries 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.7 3.3
Benefit costs 41 2.8 18 2.0 2.2 2.3
Private industry
Compensation costs 3.3 29 2.7 3.0 3.5 3.0
Wages and salaries 2.9 2.9 3.2 34 4.0 3.3
Benefit costs 44 2.9 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.2
State and local government
Compensation costs 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.5 2.5 29
Wages and salaries 2.7 3.2 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9
Benefit costs 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.0 17 2.8

For the year ended March 1999, compensation costs rose 2.8 percent in goods-producing industries and
3.1 percent in service-producing industries. For the previous year ended in March 1998, compensation costs
. Tose 2.8 percent in goods-producing industries and 3.9 percent in service-producing industries. Among
industry divisions, over-the-year increases ranged from 2.6 percent in manufacturing to 3.8 percent in
construction. (See table 3.) .


13

Table 6. Empfoyment 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.
1998 1998 1999 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1998 1998 1999 1998 1998 1999
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 133.4 137.4 137.9 1.0 0.7 0.4 44 40 3.4
White collar 135.5 139.8 140.1 1.0 6 2 43 43 3.4
Excluding sales 136.9 | 140.3 | 141.6 1.0 4 a 43 3.5 3.4
Blue collar 128.2 131.1 132.4 a 5 1.0 3.3 3.1 3.3
Service 132.0 | 135.1 136.5 8 7 1.0 44 3.2 3.4
Occupational group
White collar ... 135.7 | 139.9 | 140.3 wt 6 3 42 42 3.4
Excluding sales 136.3 | 139.7 | 141.0 ww 4 a 42 36 34
Professional specialty and technical 135.9 139.7 140.7 8 7 7 37 3.6 3.5
Executive, administrative, and manageri 137.8 | 140.5 | 141.9 15 -3 1.0 5.2 3.5 3.0
Sales? 133.1 144.3 | 137.3 13 18 28 41 75 3.2
Administrative support, including
clerical .. 138.9 | 140.4 1.0 7 Ww 3.6 37 3.8
Blue collar .. 133.2 134.3 9 6 & 3.3 3.2 3.1
Precision production, craft, and repair 133.0 134.3 g 5 1.0 3.2 3.3 35
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors 134.9 | 135.7 8 8 6 35 33 3.1
Transportation and material moving 127.8 | 129.1 6 2 1.0 29 22 25
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, ant
laborers 135.8 187.3 1 5 Wt 3.7 3.0 34
Service .... 135.3 | 136.7 8 7 1.0 43 3.2 35
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations’ .. 136.4 | 136.8 8 2 3 3.6 4.0 3.4
7 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 4 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
Average standard errors (SE) for the series exceed 0.3 percent for ands retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
‘S-month changes and 0.6 percent for 12-month changes for the five years 5 Estimates for transportation and public utilities reflect the changes in
ending December 1996. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of the ‘SIC.coding. See Expianatory Notes for further information.
series, SES for estimates in this news release (excluding seasonally adjusted This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

series) will be available on the Intemet site (httpu/stats.bis.gov/ecthome.htm). Hourly Eamings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
All series will continue to be published until further notice.
$ Due to an error in the data, estimates for December 1998 and March
1999 have been suppressed. Indexes and percent changes reflecting the NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.
corrected data will be available May 18, 1999.


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 private nonfarm economy and
the public sector--excluding 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 17,200 occupational
observations within about 4,200 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, were 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, and available upon request. From June 1986 through December
1994, employment counts from the 1980 Census were used as weights. Prior to June 1986, employment
counts from the 1970 Census were used.

For the series based on bargaining status, region, or 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