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—
int p 3 ths ended— 12 months ended-

Bargaining status, region, and area Sep. Jun. Sep. months en ronths en
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun, Sep. Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001

Bargaining status
Union .. 140.0 | 143.7 | 145.1 14 41 1.0 3.2 3.8 3.6
Blue-collar occupations 138.2 | 141.8 | 143.3 1.2 41 11 3.4 3.9 3.7
Goods-producing industries1 140.2 | 144.2 | 145.3 1.3 13 8 3.9 42 3.6
Service-producing industries? .. 140.1 143.7 | 145.4 9 14 1.2 24 3.5 3.8
Manufacturing 141.4 | 145.5 | 146.7 1.2 14 8 44 42 3.7
Blue-collar ipal 140.4 | 144.3 | 145.8 1.2 9 1.0 3.9 4.0 3.8
Nonmanufacturing .. 139.2 | 142.7 144.3 1.0 1 V1 27 3.6 37
Nonunion .. 148.1 152.2 | 153.4 1.0 9 8 43 37 3.6
Blue-collar occupations 144.1 148.2 | 150.0 8 7 1.2 3.9 3.7 41
Goods-producing industries? 145.8 | 150.3 | 151.1 8 1.0 5 41 3.9 3.6
Service-producing industries? .. 148.7 | 152.7 | 154.1 1.0 9 2 43 3.7 3.6
Manufacturing 147.2 | 151.6 | 152.2 8 1.0 A 3.9 3.8 3.4
Blue-collar occups 145.4 | 150.1 151.3 8 a 8 3.5 41 4d
Nonmanufacturing ... 148.0 | 152.0 | 153.3 1.0 a) 9 44 37 3.6
Region3
Northeast 145.3 | 149.2 | 150.6 11 1.3 a 3.9 3.8 3.6
South ... 145.3 | 149.3 | 150.2 5 7 6 3.6 3.3 3.4
Midwest .. 148.6 | 152.3 | 153.6 1.0 9 a 44 35 3.4
West .... 148.2 | 152.9 | 154.3 1.3 qa 9 49 45 44
Area

Metropolitan 147.1 151.2 | 152.4 1.0 a) 8B 4.2 3.8 3.6
Other... 144.7 | 148.8 | 149.7 7 ze) 6 3.5 3.5 3.5

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities;
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, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and Vermont, South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin; and West: Alaska, Arizona, 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.


5

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

(Seasonally adjusted data)

In S08 400) Percent changes for 3-months ended-
Industry and occupational group
Jun. Sep. Dec, Mar. dun. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep.
2001 2001 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers . 153.7 | 155.3 1.0 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 V1 0.9 1.0
‘State and local government 151.8 | 153.9 V1 & 8 6 8B 1.0 41 14
Private industry 154.2 | 155.6 V1 1.4 1.2 ga 9 11 1.0 eS)
Industry
Goods producing? 152.1 | 153.2 14 16 12 1.0 7 1a 9 7
Construction 150.0 | 151.5 9 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.0 Ww 1.0
Manufacturing 152.4 | 153.2 1.3 1.4 1.0 1.0 5 11 8 5
Durables 153.0 | 153.9 1.4 1.6 1.2 7 7 1.0 8 6
Nondurables 151.5 | 152.0 1A V1 8 1 3 1.4 a 3
Service producing? .. 155.2 | 156.8 1.0 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 1 1.0 1.0
Transportation and public 152.4 | 153.3 6 1.0 1.3 1.0 9 1.3 1.3 6
Wholesale trade 157.7 | 158.8 1.4 1.0 411 A 1.3 5 17 7
Retail trade ... 149.5 | 150.5 11 14 1.0 9 a 1.0 5 7
Finance, insurance, and real estate¢ .. 159.5 | 160.9 5 2.5 7 1.4 3 1.4 1.0 oS)
Services 157.8 | 159.9 V4 13 14 141 a 1.6 8 13
Nonmanufacturing ... 154.6 | 156.1 1.0 14 11 Ww 1.0 4A 1.0 1.0
Occupational group
White collar 157.3 158.5 1.2 1.4 1.2 a 1.0 11 411 &
Blue collar .. 149.1 150.9 1.0 14 8 1.0 8 1.2 5 1.2
Service .... 150.8 152.3 V4 8 14 8 11 1.2 8 1.0
WAGES AND SALARIES
Civilian workers ... 150.9 | 152.1 9 V1 1.0 9 8 1.0 1.0 8
State and local government 151.0 | 152.5 1.0 9 8 & 8 1.0 14 1.0
Private industry .. 150.9 | 152.0 1.0 VA 1.0 g B&B 1 9 7
Industry

Goods producing?.4 148.6 | 149.5 BS) V4 12 9 6 1.2 1 6
Construction 143.6 | 144.8 1.0 1.6 11 1.0 1.4 9 9 8
Manufacturing+ 150.0 | 150.7 9 1.0 1.0 9 5 1.4 1.0 5
Durables4 180.5 | 151.5 1.0 8 12 1.0 38 1.2 1.0 7
Nondurables 148.9 | 149.3 1.0 1.0 9 8 4 1.2 41 3
Service producing? . 151.9 | 153.1 1.0 V1 1.0 9 8B 1.0 9 8
Transportation and public utilities 145.8 | 146.5 4 5 11 7 a 11 1.4 5
Wholesale trade 154.4 | 154.2 1.4 1.0 Ww 3 Ww 4 1.6 1)
Retail trade ... 147.6 | 148.5 1 1.4 8 8 8 8 5 6
Finance, insurance, and real estate¢ .. 154.6 | 155.8 5 2.4 5 15 0 15 5 8
Services 155.0 | 157.0 1.2 sc) 1.2 a 9 1.3 8 13
Nonmanufacturing .. 150.9 | 152.1 ) 1.2 1 Ec) 8 1.0 a 8

‘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 Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Bargaining status
Union .. 146.1 149.5 | 151.0 1.2 11 1.0 42 3.5 3.4
Blue-collar occupations .. 144.3 | 147.2 | 148.7 1.3 9 1.0 AT 3.3 3.0
Goods-producing industries? 146.8 | 149.3 | 150.6 1.4 9 ga 5.5 34 26
Service-producing industries? 145.2 | 149.5 | 151.2 BS) 13 11 3.0 3.9 41
Manufacturing 147.1 148.8 | 149.9 1.2 6 7 5.8 23 1.9
Blue-collar occupations . 146.5 | 148.1 149.4 1.2 5 2 5.8 23 2.0
Nonmanufacturing ... 145.0 | 149.4 | 151.1 14 1.4 11 3.3 42 42
Nonunion .. 150.6 | 155.3 | 156.7 1.0 1.0 9 47 42 44
Blue-collar occupations .. 146.1 150.3 | 152.2 8 6 1.3 41 3.7 42
Goods-producing industries? .. 148.4 | 153.1 154.0 8 1.0 6 47 4.0 3.8
Service-producing industries 151.2 | 155.9 | 157.5 1 1.0 1.0 47 42 42
Manufacturing 149.2 | 153.7 | 154.4 7 9 5 43 3.7 3.5
Blue-collar occupat 146.7 | 150.8 | 152.1 6 6 9 3.6 3.4 3.7
Nonmanufacturing .... 150.7 | 155.4 | 157.0 V4 1.0 1.0 48 42 42
Region4

Northeast 149.3 | 153.7 | 155.2 1.2 1.4 1.0 43 41 40
147.6 | 152.3 | 153.5 6 8 8 44 38 40
152.2 156.0 157.4 1.0 8 9 5.0 3.5 3.4
West 150.8 | 156.0 | 157.6 1.3 14 1.0 5.2 48 45
Metropolitan 150.1 154.6 | 156.0 1.0 1.0 9 47 4.0 3.9
Other... 148.8 | 153.7 | 154.8 7 14 7 40 44 4.0

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

Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing,

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

The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Mai
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, 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 Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers ... 149.5 | 153.8 | 155.6 1.0 09 1.2 43 3.9 AA
Excluding sales occupations 149.4 153.8 155.6 1.2 a) 1.2 43 41 44
Industry
Goods producing2 448.0 | 152.2 | 153.2 1.0 1.0 7 48 38 35
Manufacturing 148.7 | 152.6 | 153.3 8 9 5 46 3.5 3.1
Service producing? 150.1 154.4 | 156.4 V1 9 1.3 42 4.0 42
Services .. 151.2 | 155.4 | 158.1 1.3 7 17 42 44 46
Health services 149.0 154.6 156.7 1.0 1.4 1.4 44 48 5.2
Hospitals .... 149.5 155.6 | 158.2 1.2 1.6 17 43 5.3 5.8
Educational services 149.7 152.2 | 156.1 2.0 3 26 35 3.7 43
Public administration¢ .. 146.9 151.9 | 153.8 5 9 1.3 3.2 4.0 47
Nonmanufacturing ... 149.6 | 154.0 | 156.0 11 9 1.3 43 41 43
Occupational group
White collar 151.5 | 156.0 157.7 11 1.0 11 45 44 44
Excluding sales 151.5 | 156.2 | 158.1 1 1.0 1.2 44 43 44
Professional specialty and technical 150.0 | 154.3 | 156.7 1 7 1.6 42 40 45
Executive, administrative, and managerial 153.7 | 158.6 | 159.6 1.2 1.3 & 4.3 44 3.8
Administrative support, including clerical 151.8 | 156.8 | 158.8 1 1.0 1.3 49 45 46
Blue collar 145.6 149.3 151.1 1.0 7 1.2 44 3.6 3.8
Service 148.5 | 153.3 | 155.0 1.0 9 VW 3.8 42 44
State and local government...... 147.8 | 151.2 | 154.3 1.3 6 24 3.3 3.6 44
Industry
Services .. 148.0 150.6 154.4 17 5 25 3.4 3.5 43
Excluding schools 147.6 151.9 | 154.5 1.2 1.2 1.7 3.5 4.2 47
Health services .... 150.0 154.4 157.1 1.4 1.5 17 40 44 47
Hospitals .. 150.7 | 154.7 | 157.4 15 16 17 41 42 44
Educational services 147.9 | 150.1 154.1 1.9 3 27 3.4 3.4 42
Schools .. 148.2 150.5 | 154.4 19 4 26 3.3 3.4 4.2
Elementary and secondary .. 147.3 149.0 152.8 1.8 3 2.6 34 3.0 3.7
Colleges and universities .. 150.5 154.3 | 159.0 2.0 4 3.0 3.9 45 5.6
Public administration .. 146.9 | 151.9 | 153.8 5 9 1.3 3.2 4.0 47
Occupational group

White collar 147.3 | 150.4 | 153.7 14 6 22 3.3 35 43
Professional specialty and technical 146.6 | 149.2 | 152.8 15 5 24 3.2 3.3 42
Executive, administrative, and managerial 149.2 | 153.7 | 156.4 14 a) 1.8 3.3 44 48
Administrative support, including clerical 148.3 | 151.6 | 154.2 1.2 & 17 3.7 3.5 4.0
Blue collar 145.9 | 149.0 | 151.5 1.2 3 1.7 3.5 3.3 3.8
Service 151.5 | 156.5 | 159.0 1.2 8 1.6 3.3 45 5.0

1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Pubic administration.

Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory
3 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)

Indexes (June
4989=100) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
Jun. | Sep. | Dec. | Mar. | Jun. | Sep. | Dec. | Mar. | Jun. | Sep.
2001 2001 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued
Occupational group
White collar 153.7 | 154.6 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 1 0.9 0.6
Blue collar4 145.9 | 147.5 7 1.0 1.0 1.0 6 1.3 9 4
Service+ 147.5 | 148.7 1.2 1.0 Ww 7 1.0 1.0 8 8
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers . 160.8 163.3 1.3 1.8 141 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 1.6
State and local government 153.7 157.4 1.2 8 5 3 7 1.2 44 24
Private industry 162.5 164.7 1.3 2.0 1.2 12 14 1.4 9 1.4
Industry
Goods producing? . 159.3 160.8 1.6 23 1.2 12 7 1.0 6 2
Manufacturing .. 157.5 158.5 1.8 26 9 ) 3 1.0 A 6
Service producing .... 164.4 | 167.0 1.2 1.9 1.2 1.3 1.3 17 1.2 1.6
Nonmanufacturing . 164.7 | 167.3 1.2 1.9 1.3 1.3 1.3 17 1.2 1.6
Occupational group
White collar 167.2 | 169.4 1.4 2.0 1.4 1.3 11 1.9 13 1.3
Blue collar 155.9 | 158.2 1.2 26 7 V1 8 1.0 0 15
Service 161.0 | 163.2 141 5 12 1.2 1.4 1.9 ac) 1.4
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. reta[l rade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.

Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. No identifiable seasonality was found for this series.

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—
i 3 months ended- 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun, Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Industry—Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 150.0 154.7 | 156.3 VA 1.0 1.0 46 42 42
White collar .... 152.6 | 157.5 | 159.0 11 Vi 1.0 48 43 42
Excluding sales 153.8 | 159.1 160.9 1.2 1.0 11 48 47 46
Blue collar .. 143.9 | 148.1 150.2 14 8 1.4 43 AA 44
Service .... 146.3 | 150.7 | 152.1 8 8 BS) 40 3.9 4.0
Occupational group
White collar . 152.6 | 157.4 | 158.7 1.0 41 8 48 4.2 4.0
Excluding sales 152.9 | 158.1 159.6 Ww 1.0 eo) 47 45 44
Professional specialty and technical 152.2 | 157.5 | 159.2 1.0 8 V1 48 45 46
Executive, administrative, and managerial 154.4 | 159.4 | 160.2 Ww 13 5 45 44 3.8
Sales ... 151.2 | 154.5 | 155.0 6 14 3 49 28 25
Administrative support, including
clerical .. 152.3 157.7 159.5 V1 1.0 11 5.0 47 47
Blue collar .... 145.5 | 149.3 | 151.0 1.0 7 VA 44 3.6 3.8
Precision production, craft, and repair 145.8 149.7 151.8 1.2 7 1.4 44 3.9 41
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors .. 146.0 | 149.1 150.4 7 5 9 44 28 3.0
Transportation and material moving 139.9 | 143.9 | 145.6 9 9 1.2 44 3.8 4.
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers .... 149.4 | 153.4 | 154.9 9 8 1.0 43 3.6 37
Service ... 146.6 | 151.3 | 152.6 8 9 2 4.0 44 41
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations+ 148.4 152.7 154.3 1.0 9 1.0 46 3.9 4.0
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 Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.

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


News ©

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical Contact: USDL: 01-369
(202) 691-6199 ocltinfo@bls.gov

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

Internet address: UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—SEPTEMBER 2001

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for September 2001 was 155.6 (June 1989=100),
an increase of 4.1 percent from September 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. The Employment Cost Index (ECI), a component of the Bureau’s National Compensation
Survey, measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for
employee benefits.

The events of September 11 occurred during the reference period for the ECI. The attacks resulted in a
tragic loss of lives and significant disruptions in the New York and Washington area economies, as well as
disruptions to other businesses outside these directly impacted areas. A review of survey responses was
undertaken to evaluate the impact of the situation on the ECI survey cooperation rates by industry and any
impact of nonresponse on survey estimates. No unusual effects were found.

Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers
(nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 1.0 percent during the June-September 2001
period, following a gain of 0.9 percent in March-June 2001. Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent during
the June-September 2001 period, following a 1.0 percent increase in the previous 3-month period. Benefit
costs rose 1.6 percent during the September 2001 quarter, significantly higher than the 1.0 percent gain in the
June 2001 quarter.

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

ec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.
Compensation Component 1999 2000 = 2000 ~=— 2000 ~=—2000~=—s2001 2001 2001
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 1.0 13 1.0 0.9 0.9 Ll 0.9 10
Wages and salaries 0.9 11 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.8
Benefit costs 13 1.8 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 1.6
Private industry
Compensation costs 11 14 1.2 0.9 0.9 11 1.0 0.9
Wages and salaries 1.0 11 1.0 0.9 0.8 11 0.9 0.7
Benefit costs 13 2.0 1.2 1.2 11 14 0.9 14
State and local government
Compensation costs 11 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.0 11 14
Wages and salaries 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 11 1.0
Benefit costs 12 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.7 12 11 24



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—
Industry and occupational group Sep. Jun. Sep. S months ended 12 months ended-
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Private industry workers .. 146.8 150.9 | 152.1 1.0 1.0 08 44 3.8 3.6
Excluding sales occupations 146.5 150.8 152.2 1.0 9 a) 4.0 3.9 3.9
Industry
Goods producing! 144.3 | 148.6 | 149.5 9 11 6 42 3.9 3.6
Excluding sales 143.4 147.8 | 148.7 9 1.0 6 44 40 37
White collar ... 147.9 152.3 | 152.6 7 1.2 2 44 3.7 3.2
Excluding sales 146.0 | 150.5 | 150.8 8 14 2 42 3.9 3.3
Blue collar .. 142.0 | 146.1 147.4 Ww 1.0 9 40 40 3.8
Construction ..... 139.4 | 143.9 | 145.1 1.0 1.3 8 48 43 41
Manufacturing ... 145.7 | 150.0 150.7 a 1.0 5 3.9 3.9 3.4
White collar ... 148.7 | 152.7 | 152.8 7 141 A 42 3.4 28
Excluding sales 146.6 | 150.5 150.5 7 9 0 44 3.4 27
Blue collar 143.4 | 147.8 149.1 1.0 1.0 9 3.6 44 4.0
Durables 146.1 150.5 151.5 1.0 1.0 7 41 40 3.7
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 155.1 156.6 9 5 1.0 5.1 44 44
White collar .. 146.0 150.1 150.9 6 2 5 5.6 3.4 3.4
Blue collar 155.1 162.1 164.9 2.0 11 1.7 42 6.6 6.3
Nondurables 145.0 149.0 | 149.3 8 1.0 2 3.8 3.5 3.0
Service producing? 147.9 | 151.9 | 153.2 1.0 x) x) 44 37 3.6
Excluding sales 148.3 152.6 | 154.2 1.0 a) 1.0 4.0 3.9 4.0
White collar 150.0 154.0 155.2 1.0 1.0 8 43 37 3.5
Excluding sales 151.2 155.6 | 157.2 Ani 8 1.0 42 4.0 4.0
Blue collar .. 141.6 145.3 | 147.5 9 7 15 3.4 3.6 42
Service 143.5 | 147.2 | 148.4 7 8 8 4.0 3.3 3.4
Transportation and public utilities 141.3 | 145.7 | 146.7 a 1.4 7 28 44 3.8
Transportation 137.4 | 141.6 | 142.6 9 13 7 22 40 3.8
Public utilities 146.4 | 151.0 152.0 1.0 15 7 35 42 3.8
Communications. 146.7 | 151.8 | 153.3 1.2 17 1.0 3.4 47 45
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 145.9 | 149.9 | 150.4 8 1.2 3 3.5 3.6 3.1
Wholesale and retail trade 146.4 | 150.1 150.6 6 14 3 41 3.2 2.9
Excluding sales 148.2 | 151.9 | 153.1 1.0 8 8 45 3.5 3.3
Wholesale trade 149.6 | 154.5 | 154.1 a 1.9 +3 3.7 3.4 3.0
Excluding sale: 151.3 | 156.5 | 157.4 V1 1.0 6 45 45 4.0
Retail trade ... 144.8 | 147.8 | 148.8 9 6 7 42 3.0 28
General merchandise stores 139.7 | 145.5 | 145.7 9 1.2 a 3.0 51 43
Food stores . 140.2 144.5 | 145.7 5 8 8 47 3.6 3.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate 151.7 | 154.6 | 155.8 15 5 8 5.0 3.4 27
Excluding sales ... 153.3 | 157.6 | 159.1 12 6 1.0 3.9 4.0 3.8
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies .. 165.0 170.8 | 173.2 1.0 8 14 3.6 46 5.0
150.7 | 153.3 | 153.6 28 6 2 75 46 1.9
145.7 149.6 149.8 V1 a A 3.4 3.8 2.8
Services .. 150.6 | 155.0 157.1 1.0 8 1.4 42 4.0 43
Business services 155.3 | 160.8 162.8 8 1.6 1.2 46 43 48
Health services 146.6 | 151.8 | 153.6 9 1.3 1.2 43 45 48
Hospitals ... 144.9 | 151.0 | 153.3 V1 17 1.5 4.0 5.4 5.8
Nursing homes = = - 7 7 1.5 5.7 5.3 5.1
Educational services 153.4 | 156.1 159.6 25 5 22 4.0 43 40
Colleges and universities .. 152.5 155.0 | 158.4 24 6 22 3.6 37 3.9

See footnotes at end of table.


11

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

(Not seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for~
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended-
Industry and occupational group Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers .... 147.0 | 150.8 | 152.3 1 0.9 1.0 40 3.7 3.6
Excluding sales occupations 146.7 | 150.7 | 152.3 1.2 9 1 40 3.9 3.8
Industry
Goods producing! .. 144.3 148.6 | 149.5 9 11 6 41 3.9 36
Manufacturing 145.7 150.0 | 150.7 BS) 1.0 5 3.9 3.9 34
Service producing? 148.0 151.7 | 153.4 1.2 8 141 4.0 37 3.6
Services 149.9 153.6 | 156.2 1.4 7 17 4.0 3.9 42
Health services .. 146.7 151.8 | 153.7 1.0 1.3 1.3 44 45 48
Hospitals 145.6 | 151.2 | 153.5 13 1.6 1.5 3.9 5.1 5.4
Educational services 148.9 | 151.0 | 154.6 23 3 24 3.6 3.7 3.8
Public administration 144.6 | 148.7 | 150.3 1.2 7 41 3.7 41 3.9
Nonmanufacturing 147.2 | 150.9 | 152.6 1.2 8 14 4.0 3.7 3.7
Occupational group
White collar 149.2 | 153.1 154.5 11 9 a 41 37 3.6
Excluding sale: 149.3 | 153.3 | 155.1 1.2 8 1.2 4.0 3.9 3.9
Professional specialty and technical 148.3 152.0 | 154.2 1.3 6 1.4 4.0 3.8 4.0
Executive, administrative, and managerial ...| 151.6 | 155.8 | 156.7 11 1.2 6 3.9 3.9 3.4
Administrative support, including clerical 148.5 152.8 | 154.6 11 8 1.2 44 40 44
Blue collar 142.0 146.0 | 147.6 1.0 a) 11 3.6 3.8 3.9
Service .. 145.7 | 149.7 | 151.2 12 7 1.0 40 40 3.8
State and local government .. 147.2 | 150.1 153.0 17 5 1.9 35 3.7 3.9
Industry
Services ... 147.9 | 150.2 | 153.7 21 5 23 3.5 3.7 3.9
Excluding schools 146.7.| 150.7 | 153.2 1.3 1 17 3.2 41 44
Health services .. 147.7 151.9 | 154.2 1.4 13 15 3.4 43 44
Hospitals .... 147.7 151.8 | 154.2 14 15 1.6 34 43 44
Educational services 148.0 150.0 | 153.6 22 3 24 3.6 3.6 3.8
Schools ... 148.1 150.2 | 153.8 22 3 24 35 3.7 3.8
Elementary and secondary 147.9 | 149.5 | 152.8 23 3 2.2 3.4 3.4 3.3
Colleges and universities 148.3 | 151.8 | 156.5 1.9 3 3.1 4.0 43 5.5
Public administration’ .. 144.6 | 148.7 | 150.3 1.2 7 141 3.7 4at 3.9
Occupational group
White collar 147.1 149.8 | 152.7 1.8 5 1.9 3.5 37 3.8
Professional specialty and technical 147.4 | 149.8 | 153.0 1.9 5 24 3.4 35 3.8
Executive, administrative, and managerial 147.3 151.5 | 153.9 15 a 1.6 3.2 44 45
Administrative support, including clerical 145.0 147.6 | 149.8 1.4 4 15 3.9 3.2 3.3
Blue collar 143.9 146.5 | 149.1 1.3 3 1.8 3.2 3.1 3.6
Service .. 149.6 | 153.7 | 156.1 2.0 6 1.6 3.8 48 43
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. public 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 governments, 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 Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 | 2001 | 2001 | Sep. | Jun. | Sep. | Sep. | Jun. | Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Private industry workers .. 149.9 | 154.5 | 155.9 0.9 1.0 0.9 46 4.0 4.0
Excluding sales occupations 149.8 | 154.4 | 156.0 Ww a 1.0 46 42 44
industry

Goods producing? .. 147.9 | 152.1 153.1 a) 9 7 48 3.8 3.5
Excluding sales 147.2 | 151.5 152.5 a) eS) 7 48 3.8 3.6
White collar ... 151.3 | 156.5 156.8 8 1.3 2 5.4 43 3.6
Excluding sales 149.6 | 155.0 155.3 8 1.3 2 5.0 44 3.8
Blue collar ... 145.8 | 149.3 | 150.8 1.0 7 1.0 46 3.4 3.4
Construction .. 145.1 150.3 | 151.7 13 1.4 a) 5.2 5.0 45
Manufacturing 148.7 | 152.6 | 153.3 8 9 5 46 3.5 31
White collar 151.4 | 156.0 156.0 8 1.2 ze) 49 3.9 3.0
Excluding sales 149.3 | 154.0 153.8 7 1.2 oA 48 3.9 3.0
Blue collai 146.7 | 150.0 | 151.3 8 6 2 44 3.0 3.1
Durables 149.4 | 153.1 154.0 7 a & 5.0 3.2 3.4
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 156.0 | 160.4 | 160.3 11 4 oA 86 4.0 28
White collar 151.8 | 157.3 | 156.3 7 ne) 76 8.6 44 3.0
Blue collar 161.4 | 163.6 | 165.3 1.8 V1 1.0 83 3.2 24
Nondurables .. 147.5 151.6 152.0 1.0 8 3 4.2 3.8 34
Service producing? 150.6 | 155.3 | 156.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 45 42 42
Excluding sales 151.1 156.0 | 157.8 VA 9 1.2 45 44 44
White collar ... 152.6 | 157.4 | 159.0 VA 1.0 1.0 47 42 42
Excluding sales 153.9 | 159.1 160.9 12 1.0 141 47 46 45
Blue collar 144.5 148.7 | 150.9 1.0 7 15 3.9 3.9 44
Service .... 146.3 | 150.8 | 152.2 8 8 a) 3.9 3.9 4.0
Transportation and public utilities 147.4 | 152.4 | 153.5 1.2 13 7 3.9 46 44
Transportation .. 142.8 146.9 | 148.2 7 1.0 2 3.0 3.6 3.8
Public utilities 153.5 159.8 | 160.7 17 1.6 6 5.4 5.9 47
Communications .. 153.9 | 161.1 162.8 2.0 1.8 11 5.3 68 5.8
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 152.9 158.1 158.1 13 1.3 0 5.4 47 3.4
Wholesale and retail trade .. 148.3 | 152.6 | 153.7 7 441 7 43 3.6 3.6
Excluding sales 149.6 | 163.9 | 155.4 1.0 a 1.0 48 3.9 3.9
Wholesale trade 152.1 157.8 | 158.6 2 17 5 40 4.0 43
Excluding sales 152.7 158.5 | 160.0 11 1.0 9 47 49 48
Retail trade .... 146.2 | 149.7 | 150.9 1.0 7 8 44 34 3.2
General merchandise stores 142.2 | 149.4 | 149.7 a) 1.4 2 3.6 6.0 5.3
Food stores ... 143.4 | 148.2 | 149.7 6 1.4 1.0 47 4.0 44
Finance, insurance, and real estate 155.2 | 159.5 | 160.9 14 1.0 a) 5.1 42 37
Excluding sales .... 157.4 | 163.1 164.7 1.2 1.2 1.0 42 49 46

Banking, savings and loan, and other
credit agencies 165.8 172.7 | 175.4 1.0 4 1.6 4d 5.2 5.8
Insurance ... 154.8 | 159.3 | 159.9 23 1 4 7A 5.3 3.3
Excluding sales 152.2 | 157.6 | 158.0 Ww 13 3 44 47 3.8
Services .. 152.9 | 157.8 | 160.0 ni 8 14 47 44 46
Business services 167.5 | 163.0 165.2 8 1.6 1.3 45 43 49
Health services 149.0 | 154.7 | 156.8 1.0 1.3 1.4 45 49 5.2
Hospitals 149.2 | 155.9 | 158.4 1.2 16 1.6 43 57 6.2
Nursing homes - - - 17 8 1.5 5.7 5.8 5.6
Educational services 158.8 | 162.6 | 166.4 25 2 2.3 43 5.0 48
Colleges and universities 158.6 | 162.6 | 166.2 2.0 2 2.2 3.9 46 48

See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

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

Wages and salaries Benefits

12-month percent change
4y4
12
10} 3

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

Wages and salaries Benefits

12-month percent change
14
12
10

8
6
4
2
0

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1

8
6
ak
2
0

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 Ol

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

government

Private industry State and local gov't.

12-month percent:change
14
12

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 OL

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

government

Private industry State and local gov't.

12-month percent change
14

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 OL



1S

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

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
Industry, occupational group, and 3 months ended— 12 months ended~
bargaining status Sep. Jun, Sep.
2000 | 2001 | 2001 | Sep. | Jun. | Sep. | Sep. | Jun. | Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers .. 155.8 | 161.3 | 163.7 1.0 1.0 1.5 5.3 45 5.1
‘State and local government 149.0 | 153.5 | 157.3 3 8 25 28 3.4 5.6
Private industry ... 157.5 | 163.2 | 165.2 1.2 1 12 6.0 48 49
Industry
Goods producing! 155.7 | 159.6 | 160.8 1.0 7 8 6.4 3.5 3.3
Service producing? 157.9 | 164.6 | 167.1 1.2 1.2 15 5.7 5.5 5.8
Manufacturing .... 154.9 | 157.9 | 158.5 6 5 A 6.3 26 23
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 168.7 | 171.7 | 168.2 1.3 2 -2.0 15.9 3.4 +3
White collar 165.4 | 174.2 | 168.9 41 75 -3.0 15.7 65 24
Blue collar 173.3 | 166.7 | 166.1 1.6 1.0 74 15.9 “2.2 4.2
Nonmanufacturing 158.1 164.9 | 167.4 13 1.2 15 5.8 5.6 5.9
Occupational group
White collar .. 160.4 | 167.4 | 169.5 1.2 1.3 1.3 6.2 5.6 5.7
Blue collar 153.1 156.2 | 158.3 1.0 3 1.3 5.7 3.0 3.4
Service .. 154.4 161.1 163.2 11 1.0 1.3 40 55 5.7
Bargaining status
Union .... 157.4 160.1 161.9 1.2 1.0 14 6.41 3.0 29
Nonunion 157.3 | 163.7 | 165.8 1.2 1.0 1.3 5.9 5.3 54
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 seasonal factors for 2001 and revised seasonally adjusted indexes for the past
five years are available on the Internet site (http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm) or upon request. The
factors are also published in the 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.

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/nes/ect/home.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 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/ncs/ect/home.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 2001."
Plans are being made to begin publishing this news release on a quarterly basis beginning in the fall of 2002.
Historical data and related articles are included in the bulletin, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation,
1986-99, (Bulletin 2526). An historical summary from 1986 through 2001 is also available on the Internet site
(http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm) or upon request. 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

2000-to-September 2001 increases ranged from 3.2 percent for retail trade to 6.2 percent for hospitals. (See
table 3.)

Compensation costs for nonunion workers rose 4.1 percent over the year, greater than the 3.4 percent
increase for union workers. In service-producing industries, nonunion compensation increased 4.2 percent,
compared with a 4.1 percent increase for union workers. In goods-producing industries, the increase for
nonunion workers was 3.8 percent, greater than the 2.6 percent gain for union workers. Among the four
geographic regions, increases in compensation costs ranged from 3.4 percent in the Midwest to 4.5 percent in
the West. (See table 4.)

State and local government

In State and local government, the September 2001 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 3.9
percent, compared with the gain of 3.5 percent recorded for September 2000. The 12-month gain in benefit
costs for September 2001 was 5.6 percent, much higher than the gain of 2.8 percent in September 2000 and the
highest yearly increase in nearly a decade. (See tables B, 5, and 8.)

NOTES:
The ECI for December 2001 is scheduled to be released Thursday, January 31, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

On October 16, BLS launched a completely new look for its website, which required organizational
changes to many of the specific universal resource locators (URL). ECI data are now available on the
Compensation Cost Trends page at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm, To access data using Anonymous
FTP, continue to use the Internet address ftp://ftp.bls.gov.

For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to webmaster@bls.gov. For ECI 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/ncs/ect/home.htm or http://www.bls.gov/bls/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 for private industry workers was 0.9 percent during the
June-September 2001 period, following an increase of 1.0 percent during the previous 3-month period. The
gain in wages and salaries was 0.7 percent in the quarter ended in September; in the June quarter, it was 0.9
percent. Benefit costs showed a 3-month rise of 1.4 percent during the September 2001 quarter, exceeding the
0.9 percent gain during the June 2001 quarter. The increase in benefit costs was largely due to increases in
employer costs for health insurance. (See tables A and 1.)

Compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 1.4 percent during the June-
September 2001 period; in the March-June period, the increase was 1.1 percent. Wages and salaries rose 1.0
percent in the quarter ended in September, following a 1.1 percent increase the previous quarter. Benefit costs
rose 2.4 percent during the September quarter, greatly exceeding the 1.1 percent gain in the June quarter. The
increase in benefit costs was largely due to increases in employer costs for health insurance and retirement
benefits.

Qver-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) increased 4.1 percent for the 12
months ended in September 2001. This compares with over-the-year increases of 4.3 percent in September
2000 and 3.1 percent in September 1999, Compensation costs in private industry rose 4.0 percent in the year
ended September 2001, compared with increases of 4.6 percent in September 2000 and 3.1 percent in
September 1999. In State and local government, compensation costs increased 4.4 percent for the year ended
September 2001; over-the-year increases were 3.3 percent in September 2000 and 2.9 percent in September
1999. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Nonfarm private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 3.6 percent for the year ended September 2001, after
increasing 4.1 percent in the year ended September 2000. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private
industry workers increased 4.9 percent for the year ended in September 2001, lower than the increase of 6.0
percent in September 2000. (See chart A and tables B and 8.)

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 4.0 percent for white-collar
occupations, 3.8 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 4.1 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, increases in compensation costs ranged from 2.5 percent for sales workers to 4.7 percent
for administrative support, including clerical workers. (See table 3.)

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

Compensation Component 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 2.8 3.0 3.7 3.1 43 4.1
Wages and salaries 3.2 3.5 4.0 3.3 40 3.6
Benefit costs 1.8 19 26 27 5.3 5.1
Private industry
Compensation costs 2.9 3.2 3.8 3.1 4.6 40
Wages and salaries 3.3 3.6 43 3.2 4l 3.6
Benefit costs 1.8 2.0 2.6 2.8 6.0 49
State and local government
Compensation costs 2.5 24 3.0 2.9 3.3 44
Wages and salaries 2.8 2.7 3.0 3.3 3.5 3.9
Benefit costs 19 15 2.8 2.0 2.8 5.6

For the year ended September 2001, the compensation cost increase was 3.5 percent for goods-
producing industries, significantly lower than the 4.8 percent increase for the year ended September 2000. The
over-the-year increase in compensation for service-producing industries was 4.2 percent, compared with a 4.5
percent increase for the year ended September 2000. Among service-producing industry divisions, September


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 Sep. Jun. Sep.
2000 2001 2001 Sep. Jun. Sep. Sep. Jun, Sep.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 146.9 | 150.9 | 152.2 1.0 0.9 0.9 4.2 37 3.6
White collar 149.6 | 153.8 | 155.0 9 1.0 8 43 3.8 3.6
Excluding 150.7 | 155.3 156.9 Ww ag 1.0 42 42 44
Blue collar 140.3 | 143.9 145.8 1.0 8 1.3 3.8 3.6 3.9
Service .. 143.4 | 147.1 148.2 7 8 7 4.0 3.3 3.3
Occupational group
White collar ... 149.7 | 153.8 | 154.8 9 1.0 7 43 3.7 3.4
Excluding sales .. 149.9 | 154.4 | 155.7 a 9 8 42 4.0 3.9
Professional specialty and technical 148.6 | 153.2 | 154.8 ag 7 1.0 4.2 4.0 42
Executive, administrative, and managerial ...| 152.3 | 156.5 | 157.2 V1 12 4 4.0 3.8 3.2
Sales 149.0 | 151.5 | 151.2 a 15 72 49 24 15
Administrative support, including
clerical ... 149.1 153.6 | 155.3 44 9 1 45 44 42
Blue collar .. 141.9 | 145.9 | 147.5 1.0 9 1 3.7 3.8 3.9
Precision pr in, craft, and repair . 142.0 145.7 | 147.7 1.0 8 14 3.9 3.6 4.0
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors 142.9 | 146.9 | 148.1 9 9 8 3.3 3.7 3.6
Transportation and material moving 136.5 | 140.7 | 142.1 1.0 9 1.0 3.5 4d 44
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers .. 145.0 | 149.8 | 151.0 1.0 1.2 8 40 43 44
Service ... 143.5 | 147.5 | 148.7 7 8 8 4.0 3.5 3.6
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations ... 149.0 | 150.3 a) Re] 2 4d 37 37

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

Hourly Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.

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 30,800 occupational
observations within about 7,300 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 ECT 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