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 ‘, 3 months ended— 12 months ended—

Bargaining status, region, and area Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec,
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001

Bargaining status
Union .. 141.2 | 145.1 147.4 0.9 1.0 16 3.4 3.6 44
Blue-collar occupations .. 139.2 | 143.3 144.7 7 141 1.0 3.5 3.7 4.0
Goods-producing industries? 141.3 | 1453 | 146.3 8 8 7 3.8 3.6 3.5
Service-producing industries? 144.5 | 145.4 148.9 1.0 1.2 24 34 3.8 5.2
Manufacturing ... 142.6 146.7 148.0 8 8 a 3.7 3.7 3.8
Blue-collar occupations .. 141.7 | 145.8 | 147.0 a 1.0 8 3.6 3.8 3.7
Nonmanufacturing ... 140.4 | 144.3 147.1 a 11 1.9 3.3 3.7 48
Nonunion ... 149.0 | 153.4 | 154.4 6 8 7 4.0 3.6 3.6
Blue-collar occupations .. 144.9 | 150.0 150.5 6 1.2 3 3.7 Ad 3.9
Goods-producing industries 146.8 151.1 152.1 7 5 7 40 3.6 3.6
Service-producing industries? 149.6 | 154.1 155.1 6 9 6 4.0 3.6 3.7
Manufacturing .. 148.0 | 152.2 | 153.1 5 4 6 3.6 3.4 3.4
Blue-collar occupations .. 146.6 | 151.3 | 152.6 8 8 a 3.5 4d 4d
Nonmanufacturing ... 148.9 | 153.3 184.4 6 9 7 44 3.6 37
Region?

Northeast 146.0 150.6 151.7 5 2 7 3.6 3.6 3.9
South ... 146.3 150.2 151.2 7 6 7 3.4 3.4 3.3
Midwest 149.6 153.6 154.7 7 2 7 42 3.4 3.4
West 149.2 | 154.3 | 156.0 7 a) 1 46 44 46
Metropolitan 148.0 | 152.4 | 153.7 6 8 9 3.9 3.6 3.9
Other... 146.0 | 149.7 | 150.5 zo) 6 5 44 3.5 34

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

2 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)

Indexes (June
1989=100) Percent changes for 3-months ended
Industry and occupational group
Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun, Sep. Dec.
2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers ..... 155.3 | 156.7 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 41 0.9 1.0 0.9
State and local government . 153.9 | 154.8 8 8 6 8 1.0 Vt 1.4 6
Private industry .... 155.6 | 157.2 1.4 1.2 9 a V1 1.0 a 1.0
Industry
Goods producing? .. 153.2 | 154.6 1.6 1.2 1.0 7 14 so) 7 a)
Construction 151.5 | 153.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.0 11 1.0 1.2
Manufacturing 153.2 | 154.8 14 1.0 1.0 5 11 8 5 1.0
Durables .. 153.9 | 155.5 1.6 1.2 7 7 1.0 & 6 1.0
Nondurables 152.0 | 153.5 Ww B&B V1 3 1.4 2 3 1.0
Service producing’ .... 156.8 | 158.4 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 11 1.0 1.0 1.0
Transportation and public utilities .. 153.3 155.7 1.0 1.3 1.0 a 1.3 1.3 & 1.6
Wholesale trade .. 158.8 | 159.4 1.0 141 4 1.3 5 V7 7 A
Retail trade . 150.5 | 153.8 14 1.0 a BS) 1.0 5 7 2.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate4 160.9 | 161.3 2.5 7 1.4 3 1.4 1.0 2 2
Services ... 159.9 | 161.0 1.3 Ww 14 Eo) 1.6 8 1.3 7
Nonmanufacturing .. 156.1 187.9 1.4 1 41 1.0 Wi 1.0 1.0 1.2
Occupational group
White collar 158.5 160.4 1.4 1.2 9 1.0 14 14 8 1.2
Blue collar 150.9 | 152.1 1.4 8 1.0 8 1.2 5 1.2 8
Service ... 152.3 154.4 8 14 8 11 1.2 8 1.0 1.4
WAGES AND SALARIES
Civilian workers 152.1 153.3 11 1.0 Q 8 1.0 1.0 8 8
State and local government .. 152.5 | 153.3 9 8 8 8 1.0 11 1.0 5
Private industry .... 152.0 | 153.4 11 1.0 9 8 41 2 7 Q
Industry

Goods producing2.4 149.5 | 150.5 an 1.2 9 6 1.2 1.1 6 7
Construction 144.8 | 146.7 16 Ww 1.0 1.4 9 9 8 1.3
Manufacturing 150.7 | 151.7 1.0 1.0 2 5 1.4 1.0 5 7
Durables4 151.5 152.6 8 1.2 1.0 8 1.2 1.0 7 7
Nondurables. 149.3 | 150.4 1.0 2 8 4 1.2 Vt 3 7
Service producing .... 153.1 154.6 V1 1.0 ] 8 1.0 2 8 1.0
Transportation and public utilities 146.5 | 149.2 5 WA 7 a) 4 14 5 1.8
Wholesale trade .. 154.2 | 154.5 1.0 1.4 3 Ww 4 1.6 oA 2
Retail trade .. 148.5 | 151.3 14 8 8 8 8 5 6 1.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate 155.8 | 156.0 24 5 1.5 0 15 5 8 a
Services .... 157.0 | 158.3 a) 1.2 9 9 1.3 8 1.3 8
Nonmanufacturing .. 152.1 153.6 1.2 11 BS) 8 1.0 so) 8 1.0

‘See footnotes at end of table.


10

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

region, and area

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

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

Bargaining status, region, and area Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001

Bargaining status
Union ... 146.9 | 151.0 | 153.1 05 1.0 14 4.0 3.4 42
Blue-collar occupations 145.0 | 148.7 | 150.0 5 1.0 a 44 3.0 3.4
Goods-producing industries? .. 147.3 | 150.6 | 151.8 3 9 8 46 26 34
Service-producing industries 146.4 | 151.2 | 154.2 8 11 20 35 44 53
Manufacturing ..... 147.4 | 149.9 | 151.4 2 7 1.0 45 1.9 27
Blue-collar occupations 147.0 | 149.4 | 150.9 3 9 1.0 47 2.0 27
Nonmanufacturing .... 146.2 | 151.1 153.5 8 Ww 1.6 3.8 4.2 5.0
Nonunion ... 151.6 156.7 | 157.8 7 9 7 44 41 44
Blue-collar occupations 147.2 152.2 152.9 8 1.3 5 44 42 3.9
Goods-producing industries? .. 149.3 | 154.0 155.3 6 6 8 43 3.8 4.0
Service-producing industries? 152.3 | 157.5 158.6 7 1.0 7 4s 42 44
Manufacturing ..... 149.9 | 154.4 155.5 5 5 7 3.8 3.5 3.7
Blue-collar occupations 148.0 152.1 153.5 9 9 a 3.6 3.7 3.7
Nonmanufacturing ..... 151.8 | 157.0 | 158.2 7 1.0 8 46 42 42
Region*
Northeast .. 150.3 | 155.2 | 156.3 7 1.0 7 42 4.0 4.0
South 148.6 | 153.5 | 154.6 7 8 7 3.9 4.0 4.0
Midwest 153.3 | 157.4 | 158.6 7 a 8 48 3.4 3.5
West . 151.8 | 157.6 | 159.4 7 1.0 V1 49 45 5.0
Area

Metropolitan 151.0 156.0 157.4 6 9 9 44 3.9 42
Other .. 150.3 | 154.8 | 155.6 1.0 7 5 47 4.0 3.5

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

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

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.


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 Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec,
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers 150.6 155.6 | 156.8 0.7 1.2 08 4d 41 41
Excluding sales occupations .. 150.5 | 155.6 | 156.8 7 1.2 8 42 44 42
Industry
Goods producing? 148.8 | 153.2 | 154.4 5 7 8 44 3.5 3.8
Manufacturing 149.3 | 153.3 | 154.6 A 5 8 4.0 34 3.5
Service producing’ 151.1 156.4 | 157.6 7 1.3 8 4.0 4.2 43
Services .. 152.4 | 158.1 159.0 8 17 6 4.0 46 43
Health services 150.7 | 156.7 | 158.3 nl 14 1.0 44 5.2 5.0
Hospitals 151.3 | 158.2 | 160.0 1.2 17 44 43 5.8 5.8
Educational services 150.6 | 156.1 156.6 6 26 3 3.3 43 4.0
Public administration¢ .. 148.3 | 153.8 | 155.2 1.0 1.3 a 27 47 47
Nonmanufacturing .... 150.7 | 156.0 | 157.2 7 1.3 8 44 43 43
Occupational group
White collar . 152.5 157.7 | 158.9 7 in! 8 42 41 42
Excluding sales .. 152.6 | 158.1 159.2 7 1.2 7 42 44 43
Professional specialty and technical 151.3 | 156.7 157.5 a 1.6 5 at 45 44
Executive, administrative, and
managerial 154.6 159.6 161.2 6 6 1.0 4.0 3.8 43
Administrative support, including clerical | 152.8 | 158.8 | 160.0 7 1.3 8 46 46 47
Blue collar 146.5 151.1 152.0 6 1.2 6 42 3.8 3.8
Service .. 150.0 | 155.0 | 156.9 1.0 Vt 1.2 3.6 44 46
State and local government... 148.9 | 154.3 | 155.2 7 a4 6 3.0 44 42
Industry
Services ... 148.9 | 154.4 | 154.9 6 25 3 3.0 43 4.0
Excluding schools 148.8 | 154.5 | 156.1 8 17 1.0 3.5 47 49
Health services .. 151.6 | 157.1 158.6 1.1 17 1.0 4.0 47 46
Hospitals 152.0 | 157.4 | 159.1 9 17 44 3.9 44 47
Educational servi 148.7 | 154.1 154.5, 5 27 3 3.0 4.2 3.9
Schools ... 149.0 154.4 | 154.8 5 26 3 3.0 4.2 3.9
Elementary and secondary 148.1 162.8 153.1 5 26 2 28 3.7 3.4
Colleges and universities 151.7 159.0 | 159.6 8 3.0 4 3.5 5.6 5.2
Public administration .. 148.3 | 153.8 | 155.2 1.0 13 9 27 47 47
Occupational group
White collar .. 148.3 153.7 154.4 7 2.2 5 3.0 43 41
Professional specialty and technical 147.4 152.8 | 153.2 5 24 3 29 42 3.9
Executive, administrative, and
managerial 150.7 | 156.4 | 157.6 1.0 1.8 8 34 48 46
Administrative support, including clerical | 149.4 154.2 155.6 7 17 9 3.0 4.0 44
Blue collar 147.2 | 151.5 | 153.2 2 17 11 3.3 3.8 44
Service .. 162.9 | 159.0 | 160.5 9 1.6 a 29 5.0 5.0
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. indystries; and public adminis

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


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

occupational group — Continued

(Seasonally adjusted data)

6

ear Percent changes for 3-months ended~
Industry and occupational group
Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec. Mar. Jun. Sep. Dec.
2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued
Occupational group
White collar 154.6 156.3 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 14 0.9 0.6 11
Blue collart 147.5 148.3. 1.0 1.0 1.0 6 1.3 a VW 5
Services ..... 148.7 | 150.6 1.0 44 7 1.0 1.0 8 8 1.3
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers . 163.3 165.2 1.8 14 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 1.6 1.2
State and local government 157.4 | 158.4 8 5 3 7 1.2 qt 24 6
Private industry ..... 164.7 | 166.8 2.0 1.2 1.2 44 14 a 1.4 1.3
Industry
Goods producing? 160.8 | 163.2 23 1.2 1.2 7 1.0 6 a) 1.5
Manufacturing .. 158.5 | 161.1 26 a a) 3 1.0 A 6 1.6
Service producing .... 167.0 | 168.9 1.9 1.2 1.3 1.3 17 1.2 1.6 141
Nonmanufacturing .. 167.3 169.2 1.9 1.3 1.3 1.3 17 1.2 1.6 441
Occupational group

White collar 169.4 | 171.8 2.0 1.4 1.3 1 1.9 1.3 1.3 1.4
Blue collar .. 158.2 | 159.4 26 7 11 8 1.0 0 1.5 8
Service 163.2 | 166.1 5 1.2 1.2 14 1.9 BS) 1.4 1.8

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

2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale and

retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.

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—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Dec. | sep. | Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec, Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 151.1 156.3 | 157.6 0.7 1.0 08 46 42 43
White collar .... 153.7 159.0 160.5, 7 1.0 9 46 42 44
Excluding sales 155.1 160.9 | 162.3 8 11 9 47 46 46
Blue collar 144.8 | 150.2 | 150.6 6 1.4 3 44 44 4.0
Service 147.8 | 152.1 154.1 1.0 a) 13 3.9 4.0 43
Occupational group
White collar ... 153.6 | 158.7 | 160.1 7 8 9 46 4.0 42
Excluding sales 154.1 159.6 160.9 8 a9 8 46 44 44
Professional specialty and technical 153.7 159.2 160.3 1.0 VA 7 48 46 43
Executive, administrative, and
managerial 155.3 | 160.2 161.8 6 5 1.0 42 3.8 42
Sales 151.4 | 155.0 156.7 Ad 3 1 42 25 35
Administrative support, including
clerical .. 153.4 159.5 160.8 7 VA 8B 49 47 48
Blue collar | 146.4 } 151.0 151.9 6 14 6 42 3.8 3.8
Precision pr n, craft, and repair ....| 146.7 | 151.8 | 152.5 6 1.4 5 43 41 4.0
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors .... 146.8 | 150.4 | 151.5 5 a 7 3.8 3.0 3.2
Transportation and material moving | 144.1 145.6 146.3 9 1.2 5 44 41 3.7
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers ..... .| 150.4 154.9 156.5 7 1.0 1.0 42 3.7 41
Service .... 148.1 152.6 | 154.8 1.0 9 1.4 3.9 41 45
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations? . 149.5 154.3 155.5 7 1.0 8 45 40 4.0
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. 4 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Hourly Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities;
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.

industries.


United States
Department >
of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212
Technical Contact: USDL: 02-046
(202) 691-6199 ocltinfo@bls.gov
Media Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
(202) 691-5902 hoyle_k@bls.gov IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
Intemet address: UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST),
http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2002

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—DECEMBER 2001

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for December 2001 was 156.8 (June 1989=100),
an increase of 4.1 percent from December 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.

Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers
(nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 0.9 percent during the September-December
2001 period, following a gain of 1.0 percent in June-September 2001. Wages and salaries increased 0.8
percent during the December 2001 period, identical to the change in the previous 3-month period. Benefit
costs rose 1.2 percent during the December 2001 quarter, falling from the 1.6 percent gain in the September
2001 quarter.

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

Compensation Component 2000. 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 11 0.9 1.0 0.9
Wages and salaries 11 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8
Benefit costs 18 11 1.0 1.0 13 1.0 1.6 1.2
Private industry
Compensation costs 14 12 0.9 0.9 11 10 0.9 1.0
Wages and salaries 11 1.0: 0.9 0.8 ll 0.9 0.7 0.9
Benefit costs 2.0 12 12 ll 14 0.9 14 13
State and local government
Compensation costs 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.0 11 14 0.6
Wages and salaries 09 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.0 0.5
Benefit costs 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.1 24 0.6

‘The 3-month increase in compensation costs for private industry workers was 1.0 percent during the
September-December 2001 period, following an increase of 0.9 percent during the previous 3-month period.
The gain in wages and salaries was 0.9 percent in the quarter ended in December; in the September quarter, it
was 0.7 percent. Benefit costs showed a 3-month rise of 1.3 percent during the December 2001 quarter,


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 Dec. sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec, Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Private industry workers 147.7 | 152.1 153.3 06 08 08 3.9 3.6 3.8
Excluding sales occupations 147.6 | 152.2 | 153.3 & so) 7 3.9 3.9 3.9

Industry
Goods producing! . 145.2 149.5 | 150.5 6 6 7 3.9 3.6 3.7
Excluding sales 144.6 148.7 | 149.7 8 6 7 44 3.7 3.5
White collar .... 148.7 152.6 | 153.6 5 2 7 4.0 3.2 3.3
Excluding sales 147.2 150.8 | 151.7 8 2 6 42 3.3 3.4
Blue collar .. 143.1 147.4 | 148.4 8 Bc) 7 4.0 3.8 3.7
Construction .. 140.7 145.1 146.3 a: 8 8 5.3 44 4.0
Manufacturing 146.5 150.7 | 151.7 5 5 7 3.5 3.4 3.5
White collar 149.2 | 152.8 | 153.3 3 A 3 3.6 2.8 27
Excluding sales 147.5 | 150.5 | 151.0 6 0 3 3.9 27 24
Blue collar .. 144.6 | 149.1 150.3 8 9 8 35 4.0 3.9
Durables | 147.3 151.5 152.6 8 7 7 3.9 3.7 3.6
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) ..| 151.6 | 156.6 | 158.3 14 1.0 Ww 5.6 44 44
White collar .. -| 146.2 150.9 12.2 A 5 9 5.1 3.4 44
Blue collar 159.3 164.9 167.4 27 17 15 6.3 63 51
Nondurables 145.4 | 149.3 | 150.2 3 2 6 3.2 3.0 3.3
Service producing? 148.9 | 153.2 | 154.5 7 ac) 8 3.9 3.6 3.8
Excluding sales 149.4 | 154.2 | 155.5 7 1.0 8 3.9 4.0 44
White collar .... 150.9 | 155.2 | 156.5 6 8 8 44 3.5 3.7
Excluding sales 152.3 187.2 158.6 7 1.0 zo] 40 4.0 44
Blue collar .. 142.2 | 147.5 | 148.1 4 15 4 3.2 42 44
Service .... 144.8 | 148.4 | 150.2 a) 8 12 3.7 3.4 3.7
Transportation and public utilities 1423 | 146.7 | 149.2 7 7 17 3.2 3.8 48
Transportation .. 138.6 | 142.6 | 145.7 2 7 22 27 3.8 5.1
Public utilities 147.1 152.0 | 153.6 5 7 441 3.7 3.8 44
Communications .. .| 147.4 | 153.3 | 155.2 5 1.0 1.2 3.7 45 5.3
Electric, gas, and sanitary services | 146.6 | 150.4 | 151.7 5 3 a 3.8 3.41 3.5
Wholesale and retail trade .. 147.4 | 150.6 | 152.1 7 3 1.0 3.8 2.9 3.2
Excluding sales 149.0 153.1 154.6 5 8 1.0 4.0 3.3 3.8
Wholesale trade 151.6 | 154.1 154.8 1.3 +3 5 3.5 3.0 24
Excluding sales 153.2 157.4 | 157.9 13 6 3 46 4.0 34
Retail trade ... 145.2 148.8 150.7 3 7 1.3 4.0 28 3.8
General merchandise stores 142.2 145.7 | 146.5 1.8 a 5 40 43 3.0
Food stores .., 141.6 145.7 146.7 1.0 8 7 5.0 3.9 3.6
Finance, insurance, and real estate 151.7 | 155.8 | 156.0 0 8 1 45 27 2.8
Excluding sales .... 154.1 159.1 159.1 5 1.0 at 3.8 3.2
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies .. 165.7 | 173.2 | 171.7 4 14 9 3.8 5.0 3.6
Insurance ... 150.8 | 153.6 | 155.0 a 2 9 6.6 1.9 28
Excluding sales 146.5 | 149.8 | 151.2 5 A 9 3.5 28 3.2
Services .. 151.8 | 157.1 158.2 8 1.4 7 4.0 43 42
Business services 156.0 162.8 163.7 5 1.2 6 44 48 49
Health services 148.1 153.6 155.4 1.0 1.2 1.2 44 48 49
Hospitals 146.8 | 153.3 | 155.4 1.3 15 14 42 5.8 5.9
Nursing homes, - - - 1.2 15 14 58 5.1 5.1
Educational services 154.3 | 159.6 | 160.6 6 22 6 44 4.0 44
Colleges and universities 152.9 | 158.4 | 159.6 3 22 8 3.4 3.9 44

See footnotes at end of table.


i

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

ian and State and local government workers, by

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers .... 147.9 | 152.3 | 153.4 06 1.0 07 3.8 3.6 37
Excluding sales occupations 147.7 | 152.3 | 153.4 7 Ww 7 3.8 3.8 3.9
Industry
Goods producing! .. 145.3 | 149.5 150.5 7 6 7 4.0 3.6 3.6
Manufacturing 146.5 | 150.7 | 151.7 5 5 7 35 3.4 3.5
Service producing? 148.9 | 153.4 | 154.5 6 1 7 3.8 3.6 3.8
Services .. 151.0 | 156.2 | 157.1 7 1.7 6 38 4.2 4.0
Health services .. 148.3 | 153.7 | 155.5 V1 1.3 1.2 41 48 49
Hospitals 147.3 | 153.5 | 155.5 1.2 15 1.3 40 5.4 5.6
Educational services 149.6 | 154.6 | 155.1 5 24 3 3.4 3.8 3.7
Public administration? 146.1 150.3 | 151.6 1.0 An! a 33 3.9 3.8
Nonmanufacturing .. 148.1 152.6 | 153.8 6 1 8 3.9 3.7 3.8
Occupational group
White collar 150.2 | 154.5 | 155.6 7 9 7 3.9 3.6 3.6
Excluding sales .. 150.4 | 155.1 156.1 7 1.2 6 3.9 3.9 3.8
Professional specialty and technical .. 149.6 | 154.2 | 155.1 a) 14 6 3.9 4.0 3.7
Executive, administrative, and
managerial .... | 152.4 | 156.7 | 158.1 5 6 2 3.5 3.4 3.7
Administrative support, including clerical | 149.6 | 154.6 | 155.7 7 1.2 7 43 41 44
Blue collar 147.6 | 148.5 6 11 & 3.6 3.9 3.9
Service ... 147.1 151.2 | 153.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 3.8 3.8 4.0
‘State and local government ... 148.3 | 153.0 153.7 7 1.9 5 3.3 3.9 3.6
Industry
148.7 | 153.7 | 154.2 5 23 3 3.3 3.9 37
Te} 147.9 | 153.2 | 154.9 8 17 41 3.3 44 47
Health services .. 149.3 | 154.2 | 155.8 11 15 1.0 3.5 44 44
Hospitals. 149.2 154.2 155.7 1.0 1.6 1.0 3.5 44 44
Educational services 148.7 | 153.6 | 154.0 5 24 3 3.3 3.8 3.6
Schools 148.9 | 153.8 | 154.1 5 24 2 3.3 3.8 3.5
Element 148.5 | 152.8 | 153.1 4 22 2 3.1 3.3 3.1
Colleges and universities 149.5 | 156.5 156.7 8 34 A 35 5.5 48
Public administration’ .. 146.1 150.3 | 151.6 1.0 nl 9 3.3 3.9 3.8
Occupational group
White collar 148.0 | 152.7 | 153.3 6 19 4 3.2 3.8 3.6
Professional specialty and technical .. 148.2 | 153.0 | 153.4 5 a4 3 3.2 3.8 3.5
Executive, administrative, and
managerial 148.8 153.9 155.1 1.0 1.6 8 34 45 42
Administrative support, incl 146.2 | 149.8 | 150.9 8 15 7 3.2 3.3 3.2
Blue collar 5 149.1 150.8 8 18 41 34 3.6 3.9
Service .. 151.2 | 156.1 157.4 Ww 16 8 3.8 43 44
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. industries; and public administration.
2 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; 3 Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory

wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service 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 Dec. Sep. Deo.
2000 2001 2001 Dec. Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Private industry workers 150.9 | 155.9 | 157.2 0.7 0.9 08 44 4.0 4.2
Excluding sales occupations 150.9 | 156.0 | 157.2 7 1.0 8 44 41 42

Industry
Goods producing? 148.8 153.1 154.4 6 7 8 44 3.5 3.8
Excluding sales 148.2 152.5 | 153.7 7 7 8 45 3.6 37
White collar .. 151.9 156.8 | 158.1 4 2 8 44 3.6 41
Excluding sales 150.5 155.3 | 156.5 6 2 8 46 3.8 4.0
Blue collar 146.8 | 150.8 | 151.9 7 1.0 7 43 3.4 3.5
Construction .... 146.7 151.7 | 153.0 11 a 9 5.8 45 43
Manufacturing . 149.3 | 153.3 | 154.6 A 5 8 40 3.4 3.5
White collar .. 151.5 156.0 156.9 a 0 6 3.9 3.0 3.6
Excluding sales .. 149.7 | 153.8 | 154.7 3 “A 6 41 3.0 3.3
Blue collar 147.8 | 151.3 | 152.7 7 2 9 4.0 3.1 3.3
Durables 150.1 154.0 | 155.3 5 & 8 42 3.1 3.5
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 155.3 160.3 | 163.4 74 1 1.9 5.7 28 5.2
White collar 151.2 156.3 | 159.0 «4 +6 17 67 3.0 5.2
Blue collar 160.4 165.3 | 169.1 +6 1.0 23 3.9 24 54
Nondurables 147.7 152.0 | 153.2 A 3 8 3.4 31 3.7
Service producing .. 151.7 | 156.9 | 158.2 7 1.0 8 44 42 43
Excluding sales 152.2 | 157.8 | 159.0 7 1.2 8 43 44 45
White collar .. 153.7 | 159.0 | 160.3 7 1.0 8 46 42 43
Excluding sales 155.1 160.9 | 162.2 8 11 8 46 45 46
Blue collar 145.3 | 150.9 | 151.4 6 15 3 3.9 44 42
Service 147.9 | 152.2 | 154.2 Ww 9 1.3 3.9 4.0 43
Transportation and public utilities 148.3 | 153.5 | 155.5 6 7 1.3 42 44 49
Transportation 143.9 | 148.2 | 151.1 8 9 2.0 3.2 3.8 5.0
Public utilities 154.14 160.7 | 161.5 A 6 5 55 47 48
Communications 154.7 | 162.8 | 163.4 5 V4 A 6.0 58 5.6
Electric, gas, and 153.4 158.1 159.1 3 0 & 5.0 34 3.7
Wholesale and retail trade 149.4 153.7 | 155.5 7 7 1.2 41 3.6 44
Excluding sale: 150.6 155.4 | 157.1 7 1.0 11 44 3.9 43
Wholesale trade .. 154.4 | 158.6 | 159.5 15 5 6 4.0 43 3.3
Excluding sale: 154.9 160.0 | 160.6 1.4 a) A 51 48 3.7
Retail trade . 146.6 150.9 | 153.2 3 8 15 42 3.2 45
General merchandise stores . 144.4 | 149.7 | 150.9 1.5 2 8 44 5.3 45
Food stores .., 144.5 | 149.7 | 151.7 8 1.0 1.3 46 44 5.0
Finance, insurance, and real estate 155.7 | 160.9 | 161.3 3 9 2 5.0 37 3.6
Excluding sales .. 158.4 | 164.7 | 165.0 6 1.0 2 45 46 42
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies 166.5 175.4 | 174.3 4 1.6 -6 42 5.8 47
Insurance .. 155.2 159.9 | 161.3 3 A 9 6.4 3.3 3.9
Excluding sal 153.1 158.0 | 159.4 6 3 a) 44 3.8 41
Services .... 154.1 160.0 | 161.0 8 1.4 6 44 46 45
Business services 158.4 165.2 | 166.2 6 13 6 43 49 49
Health services 150.6 156.8 | 158.4 41 14 1.0 44 5.2 5.2
Hospitals .. 151.1 158.4 | 160.3 1.3 1.6 1.2 45 6.2 6.4
Nursing homes - - - 15 15 a) 6.1 5.6 5.1
Educational services . 159.9 | 166.4 | 167.6 7 23 7 45 4.8 48
Colleges and universities .. 159.2 166.2 | 167.5 4 22 8 3.8 48 5.2

‘See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

Chart A. Changes in wages and

salaries and benefit costs,

private industry

Chart B. Changes in compensation,
seasonally adjusted and not seasonally

adjusted, private industry

Wages & salaries Benefits

12-month percent change

Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted

3-month percent change
3.5 Fy
3
2.5
2
15
1
0.5

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1

FPOPT FPR PTT FP FP FPP FPP TP FP FPP FT
0

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1

Chart C. Changes in compensation,

goods-producing and service-

producing sectors, private industry

Goods-producing Service-producing

12-month percent change

12

10

FPPPT FOR POPE FPP FPP FO FPP PO FPP PPT FO PP

Chart D. Changes in compensation,
white-collar and blue-collar

occupations, private industry

White-collar Blue-collar

12-month percent change
2P

10

Nat Seen

FPR FORT FPPT PPT PPPS FPP FFP FPP PPT PPP FP FF

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 OL

0
81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 O1



15

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

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
Industry, occupational group, and 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
bargaining status Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 Dec, Sep. Dec. Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Civilian workers .. 156.9 | 163.7 165.1 0.7 15 0.9 49 5.1 5.2
State and local government 150.2 | 157.3 158.4 8 25 7 2.4 5.6 5.5
Private industry ... 158.6 | 165.2 166.7 7 1.2 9g 5.6 49 5.4
: Industry
Goods producing? 156.2 160.8 | 162.6 3 8 11 5.4 3.3 41
Service producing? 159.4 | 167.1 168.4 9 15 8 5.8 5.8 5.6
Manufacturing .... 154.8 | 158.5 | 160.4 a1 A 1.2 47 23 3.6
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 163.1 168.2 | 174.4 3.3 2.0 37 6.0 23 6.9
White collar 162.8 | 168.9 | 175.0 1.6 3.0 3.6 10.3 21 75
Blue collar 162.7 | 166.1 172.4 6.1 4 3.8 72 4.2 6.0
Nonmanufacturing 159.7 | 167.4 | 168.8 1.0 15 8 6.0 5.9 5.7
Occupational group
White collar . 161.5 | 1695 | 171.2 7 13 1.0 5.9 5.7 6.0
Blue collar 154.1 158.3 | 159.2 7 13 6 5.4 3.4 3.3
Service . 156.4 | 163.2 | 166.0 1.3 13 17 43 5.7 61
Bargaining status

Union ... 157.5 161.9 | 163.4 A 11 2 5.2 2.9 3.7
Nonunion 158.6 | 165.8 | 167.2 8 1.3 & 5.7 5.4 5.4

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service

Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; industries.


17

newly updated seasonal adjustment factors. The historical data for the last five years are 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 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/ncs/ect/home.htm) shortly after publication of the news
telease.

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 historical
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/nes/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

Compensation costs for union workers rose 4.2 percent over the year, compared with a 4.1 percent
increase for nonunion workers. In service-producing industries, union compensation increased 5.3 percent,
greater than the 4.1 percent increase for nonunion workers. Conversely, in goods-producing industries, the
increase for nonunion workers was 4.0 percent, compared with a 3.1 percent gain for union workers. Among
the four geographic regions, increases in compensation costs ranged from 3.5 percent in the Midwest to 5.0
percent in the West. (See table 4.)

State and local government

In State and local government, the December 2001 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was 3.6
percent, compared with a gain of 3.3 percent for December 2000. The 12-month gain in benefit costs for
December 2001 was 5.5 percent, more than double the gain of 2.4 percent for December 2000. (See tables B,
5, and 8.)

NOTES:

The new seasonal factors for 2002, along with revised seasonally adjusted indexes for the past five
years, will be available Tuesday, April 23, 2002, on the Internet site http://www.bls.gov/ect/home.htm or upon
request. The ECI for March 2002 is scheduled to be released Thursday, April 25, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

The terrorist attacks of September 11 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 both the September and December 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. A fact sheet with additional information can be obtained

from the Internet site http://www.bls.gov/ect/eciimpac.htm, by e-mail request ocltinfo@bls.gov, or by
telephone (202) 691-6199.

ECI data are 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/nes/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

compared with a 1.4 percent gain during the September 2001 quarter. The increase in benefit costs continued
to be largely due to increases in employer costs for health insurance. (See tables A and 1.)

Compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 0.6 percent-during the September-
December 2001 period, falling significantly from the 1.4 percent increase in the June-September period.
Wages and salaries rose 0.5 percent in the quarter ended in December, following a 1.0 percent increase the
previous quarter. Benefit costs rose 0.6 percent during the December quarter, dropping sharply from the 2.4
percent gain in the September quarter. The slower increase in benefit costs was largely due to smaller
increases in employer costs for health insurance and retirement benefits.

Over-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) increased 4.1 percent for the 12
months ended in December 2001. This compares with over-the-year increases of 4.1 percent in December
2000 and 3.4 percent in December 1999. Compensation costs in private industry rose 4.2 percent in the year
ended December 2001, compared with increases of 4.4 percent in December 2000 and 3.4 percent in
December 1999. In State and local government, compensation costs increased 4.2 percent for the year ended
December 2001; over-the-year increases were 3.0 percent in December 2000 and 3.4 percent in December
1999. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Nonfarm private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 3.8 percent for the year ended December 2001, after
increasing 3.9 percent in the year ended December 2000. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private
industry workers increased 5.1 percent for the year ended in December 2001, compared with an increase of 5.6
percent in December 2000. (See chart A and tables B and 8.)

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 4.2 percent for white-collar
occupations, 3.8 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 4.5 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, increases in compensation costs ranged from 3.2 percent for machine operators,
assemblers, and inspectors to 4.8 percent for administrative support, including clerical workers. (See table 3.)

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

Compensation Component 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000. 2001
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 2.9 3.3 3.4 3.4 41 41
Wages and salaries 3.3 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.8 3.7
Benefit costs 2.0 2.1 2.6 3.3 49 5.2
Private industry
Compensation costs 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.4 44 42
Wages and salaries 3.4 3.9 3.9 3.5 3.9 3.8
Benefit costs 2.0 2.3 2.4 3.4 5.6 5.1
State and local government
Compensation costs 2.6 23 3.0 3.4 3.0 4.2
Wages and salaries 2.8 27 3.1 3.6 3.3 3.6
Benefit costs 2.2 1.3 3.0 2.8 24 5.5

For the year ended December 2001, the compensation cost increase was 3.8 percent for goods-producing
industries, compared with a 4.4 percent increase for the year ended December 2000. The over-the-year
increase in compensation for service-producing industries was 4.3 percent, compared with a 4.4 percent
increase for the year ended December 2000. Among service-producing industry divisions, December 2000-to-

December 2001 increases ranged from 3.3 percent for wholesale trade to 6.1 percent for hospitals. (See table
3.)


13

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

occupational group — Continued

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for—
i 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Dec. Sep. Dec.
2000 | 2001 | 2001 | Dec. | Sep. | Dec. | Dec. | Sep. | Dec.
2000 2001 2001 2000 2001 2001
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries .. 147.9 | 152.2 | 153.5 0.7 0.9 0.9 44 3.6 3.8
White collar .. 150.6 | 155.0 | 156.4 7 8 ga 44 3.6 3.9
Excluding sales 161.9 156.9 158.3 8 1.0 go 44 4d 42
Blue collar 140.9 145.8 146.4 A 13 4 3.8 3.9 3.9
Service . 144.7 148.2 150.1 9 7 1.3 3.7 3.3 3.7
Occupational group
White collar ... 150.6 154.8 156.1 6 7 8 4.0 3.4 3.7
Excluding sales 151.1 155.7 | 156.9 8 8 8 44 3.9 3.8
Professional specialty and technical ....... 150.2 | 154.8 | 155.9 14 1.0 7 42 42 3.8
Executive, administrative, and
managerial 153.0 157.2 158.6 5 4 2 37 3.2 3.7
Sales .. 148.7 151.2 152.6 +2 “2 9 3.8 1.5 26
Administrative support, including
clerical 150.1 155.3 | 156.5 7 Ww 8 44 42 43
Blue collar .. 142.8 | 147.5 | 148.3 6 11 5 3.7 3.9 3.9
Precision production, craft, and repai 142.8 | 147.7 | 148.4 6 14 5 3.9 4.0 3.9
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors 143.7 148.1 149.0 6 8 6 3.0 3.6 37
Transportation and material moving 137.6 142.1 142.8 8&8 1.0 5 3.7 44 3.8
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers ... | 146.2 | 151.0 | 152.4 8 8 9 44 41 42
Service . 144.9 | 148.7 | 150.6 1.0 8 1.3 3.8 3.6 3.9
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations’ ... 150.3 151.5 7 9 8 4.0 3.7 3.8

7 includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

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

indystries.

3 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.

Hourly Earnings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.


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 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 30,300 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 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. 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