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 Internet address:                           UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
     http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm     FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2005

                      EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX-SEPTEMBER 2005

     Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent from
 June to September 2005, seasonally adjusted, virtually unchanged from the 0.7
 percent gain from March to June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
 U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  Benefit costs between June and September
 rose 1.3 percent and continued to outpace the gain in wages and salaries for civilian
 workers, 0.6 percent.  The Employment Cost Index (ECI), a component of the National
 Compensation Survey, measures quarterly changes in compensation costs, which
 include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits for civilian
 workers (nonfarm private and State and local government).

     Increases in benefit costs accounted for over 40 percent of the rise in
 compensation costs for civilian workers from June to September 2005.  Among private
 industry workers, benefit costs contributed one-third of the compensation gains during
 the quarter.  Among State and local government workers, benefit costs comprised over
 one-half of compensation cost gains during the June to September period.  Health
 insurance costs and defined benefit contributions each represented approximately
 one-fifth of the gain in compensation costs for State and local government workers
 from June to September 2005.

     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast during the reference period
 for the ECI, affecting the lives of millions of Americans and resulting in significant
 disruptions in business both inside and outside of the impacted areas.  Survey
 response rates in the affected areas were lower than usual, but the data from
 nonresponding establishments account for less than 1 percent of the overall sample.
 There does not appear to have been any tangible effects on the estimates.

 Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

     Compensation costs for the private sector rose 0.8 percent from June to
 September 2005, compared with a gain of 0.6 percent in the prior quarter.  For
 State and local government workers, compensation costs rose 1.1 percent in September,
 greater than the gain of 0.7 percent for the quarter ended in June.  (See tables A and 1.)

     Benefit costs rose 1.3 percent for both civilian and private industry workers
 in the September 2005 quarter, following more modest gains of 0.8 percent for both
 sectors in the June quarter.  Benefit costs for State and local government workers
 increased 1.7 percent in the September quarter, compared with a 1.2 percent gain in the
 prior quarter.

     Wages and salaries for both civilian and private industry workers increased 0.6 percent
 during the September 2005 quarter, the same increases as in the previous two quarters.
 Wages and salaries in State and local government advanced 0.7 percent during the June
 to September 2005 period, following an increase of 0.5 percent in the prior quarter.

 Table A.  3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally
 adjusted
                          Dec.  Mar.  June  Sep.  Dec.  Mar.   June  Sep.
 Compensation Component   2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2005   2005  2005
 Civilian workers
 Compensation costs       0.8    1.1   0.9   0.9   0.8   0.7    0.7   0.8
   Wages and salaries     0.5    0.6   0.6   0.7   0.5   0.6    0.6   0.6
   Benefit costs          1.5    2.2   1.6   1.4   1.6   1.2    0.8   1.3
         Private industry
 Compensation costs       0.8    1.1   0.9   1.0   0.8   0.6    0.6   0.8
   Wages and salaries     0.6    0.6   0.6   0.7   0.4   0.6    0.6   0.6
   Benefit costs          1.5    2.2   1.7   1.3   1.6   1.1    0.8   1.3
         State and local government
 Compensation costs       0.7    0.9   0.9   0.8   0.9   1.0    0.7   1.1
   Wages and salaries     0.5    0.6   0.5   0.4   0.6   0.8    0.5   0.7
   Benefit costs          1.3    1.6   1.8   1.6   1.5   1.5    1.2   1.7

 Over-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

     Annual compensation cost increases moderated for civilian and private industry
 workers for the year ended September 2005 compared with over-the-year increases for
 September 2004.  Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 3.1 percent for
 the year ended September 2005, lower than the 3.8 percent over-the-year increase
 for September 2004.  Compensation costs in private industry rose 3.0 percent in the
 year ended September 2005, slowing from a 3.7 percent increase in September 2004.
 Compensation costs increased 3.7 percent for State and local governments for the year
 ended September 2005, compared with an over-the-year gain of 3.4 percent in September 2004.
 (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

 Table B.  12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, not
 seasonally adjusted
                         Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.
 Compensation Component  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005
 Civilian workers
 Compensation costs      4.3    4.1   3.7   3.9   3.8   3.1
   Wages and salaries    4.0    3.6   3.2   2.9   2.4   2.3
   Benefit costs         5.3    5.1   4.9   6.5   6.8   5.1
         Private industry
 Compensation costs      4.6    4.0   3.7   4.0   3.7   3.0
   Wages and salaries    4.1    3.6   3.2   3.0   2.6   2.2
   Benefit costs         6.0    4.9   4.8   6.5   6.8   4.8
         State and local government
Compensation costs       3.3    4.4   3.8   3.6   3.4   3.7
   Wages and salaries    3.5    3.9   3.1   2.3   2.0   2.7
   Benefit costs         2.8    5.6   5.4   6.7   6.4   6.1

     The components of compensation showed differences in the rate of change.  While
 increases in wages and salaries continued at a moderate pace, the sharp increases in
 benefit costs over the past several years continued to moderate.  For civilian workers,
 wages and salaries rose 2.3 percent in the year ended September 2005, nearly identical with
 a gain of 2.4 percent in September 2004.  Benefit costs gained 5.1 percent for civilian
 workers for the period ended September 2005, slowing sharply from an increase of 6.8 percent
 for the year ended September 2004.  (See tables B, 5, 6, and 8.)

     Nonfarm private industry

     For the year ended September 2005, compensation costs in private industry increased
 3.7 percent for goods-producing industries, compared with an increase of 4.6 percent for
 the year ended September 2004.  The rise in compensation costs for manufacturing moderated
 for the year ending September 2005, advancing 3.3 percent compared with the 5.0 percent
 gain in September 2004.  Compensation costs for construction rose 3.5 percent in September 2005,
 compared with a 2.9 percent rise in September 2004.  (See table 3.)

     The over-the-year increase in compensation for service-producing industries was 2.6 percent,
 declining from the 3.5 percent gain for the year ended September 2004.  Among service-producing
 industries, compensation gains in transportation and public utilities moderated for the year
 ending September 2005, rising 2.1 percent compared with an increase of 4.3 percent in
 September 2004.  (See table 3.)

     Over-the-year compensation cost increases were 3.2 percent for white-collar occupations,
 2.7 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 2.4 percent for service occupations for the
 year ended September 2005.  Among white-collar occupational groups, compensation cost
 changes ranged from 2.3 percent for sales workers to 3.5 percent for professional specialty
 and technical employees.  Among blue-collar occupational groups, compensation cost increases
 ranged from 1.6 percent for machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors to 3.2 percent
 for precision production, craft, and repair occupations and transportation and material moving
 occupations.  (See table 3.)

     Compensation costs for union workers advanced 2.9 percent over the year ended
 September 2005, falling sharply from the 5.8 percent gain for the year ended September 2004.
 For nonunion workers, compensation costs rose 3.0 percent for the year ended September 2005,
 compared with a gain of 3.4 percent for September 2004.  Benefit costs for union workers
 rose 4.1 percent for the year ended September 2005, decelerating sharply compared with
 the gain of 10.6 percent in September 2004.  Benefit costs for nonunion workers advanced
 5.0 percent over the year ended September 2005, compared with an increase of 5.9 percent
 in September 2004.  Wages and salaries for union workers rose 2.1 percent for the 12 months
 ended in September 2005, nearly identical to the over-the-year increase of 2.2 percent
 for nonunion workers.  (See tables C, 4, 7, and 8.)

     Among blue-collar workers, compensation costs advanced 3.0 percent for union workers,
 compared with the gain of 2.6 percent for nonunion workers for the 12 months ended in
 September 2005.  In manufacturing industries, compensation cost gains for union workers
 decelerated sharply, rising 2.4 percent for the year ended September 2005,
 significantly less than the 8.1 percent increase for the year-ended September 2004.
 For nonunion workers in manufacturing, compensation costs rose 3.6 percent for the year ended
 September 2005, compared with an over-the year gain of 4.1 percent in September 2004.
 (See table 4.)

 Table C.  12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, private
 industry workers, not seasonally adjusted
                         Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.
 Compensation Component  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005
         Union workers
 Compensation costs      4.2    3.4   4.7   4.8   5.8   2.9
   Wages and salaries    3.2    3.6   4.3   2.6   3.0   2.1
   Benefit costs         6.1    2.9   5.5   8.5  10.6   4.1
      Nonunion workers
 Compensation costs      4.7    4.1   3.5   3.8   3.4   3.0
   Wages and salaries    4.3    3.6   3.1   3.1   2.5   2.2
   Benefit costs         5.9    5.4   4.6   5.9   5.9   5.0


     Among the four geographic regions, increases in compensation costs ranged from 2.7 percent
 in the South to 3.3 percent in the West for the year ended September 2005.  Compensation
 costs rose 3.0 percent in the Northeast and Midwest.  In the West, gains in wages and salaries
 slowed to 1.8 percent for the year ended September 2005, compared with the 2.7 percent gain
 for the year ended September 2004.  Among the remaining regions, wages and salaries rose
 2.1 percent in the South, 2.2 percent in the Northeast, and 2.6 percent in the Midwest
 for the year ended September 2005.  (See tables 4 and 7.)

     State and local government

     Wages and salaries for State and local government workers rose 2.7 percent in the
 year ended September 2005, greater than the gain of 2.0 percent for September 2004.
 Benefit costs rose 6.1 percent for the year ended September 2005, compared with the gain
 of 6.4 percent for the year ended September 2004.  (See tables B, 5, and 8.)

     For the year ended September 2005, compensation costs increased 3.6 percent for
 educational services, outpacing the 2.7 percent increase for the year ended September 2004.
 Compensation costs for colleges and universities rose 3.5 percent, a significant
 increase from the 1.9 percent gain for the year ended September 2004.   Among occupational
 groups, compensation costs of service workers rose 4.6 percent for the year ended
 September 2005, compared with gains of 4.4 percent for blue-collar workers and 3.5 percent
 for white-collar workers.  (See table 2.)

 Annual changes, constant dollars, not seasonally adjusted

     Quarterly and annual changes are computed in terms of June 1989 dollars to give
 an approximate measure of changes in compensation costs after adjustment for the changes
 over the same time in the price of consumer goods and services.  These estimates, in "constant
 dollars," showed annual compensation costs for civilian workers decreased 1.5 percent
 for the year ended September 2005, compared with a 1.2 percent over-the-year increase
 for September 2004.  Compensation costs in private industry declined 1.6 percent in the
 year ended September 2005, compared with a 1.2 percent advance in September 2004.
 Compensation costs decreased 0.9 percent for State and local government for the year ended
 September 2005, compared with an over-the-year gain of 0.8 percent in September 2004.
 These inflation-adjusted ECI series were derived using the Consumer Price Index for
 All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. City Average All Items.  (See table D and the Explanatory
 Note for more details.)

 Table D.  12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index,
 constant dollars, not seasonally adjusted
                         Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.  Sep.
 Compensation Component  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005
 Civilian workers
 Compensation costs      0.8    1.4   2.1   1.5   1.2  -1.5
   Wages and salaries    0.6    0.9   1.7   0.6  -0.1  -2.3
   Benefit costs         1.8    2.4   3.3   4.1   4.1   0.4
         Private industry
 Compensation costs      1.1    1.3   2.1   1.7   1.2  -1.6
   Wages and salaries    0.6    0.9   1.7   0.7   0.1  -2.4
   Benefit costs         2.5    2.2   3.2   4.1   4.2   0.1
         State and local government
 Compensation costs     -0.2    1.7   2.2   1.3   0.8  -0.9
   Wages and salaries    0.1    1.3   1.5   0.0  -0.5  -1.9
   Benefit costs        -0.7    2.8   3.8   4.3   3.8   1.4

________________________________________________________________________________________

                                        NOTE:

     The ECI for December 2005 is scheduled to be released Tuesday, January 31, 2006,
 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

     Beginning with the release of the March 2006 estimates, the ECI will publish industry
 categories based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and
 classify jobs into occupational categories according to the 2000 Standard Occupational
 Classification (SOC) Manual.  These systems will replace the 1987 Standard Industrial
 Classification (SIC) Manual and the Occupational Classification System (OCS) currently being
 used in the ECI.  Broad categories, such as civilian workers and private industry workers,
 are comparable for both the old and new classification systems; however, some detailed
 occupational and industry classifications (even with the same title) may not be comparable.
 Some new series will be introduced while others will be dropped.  For more detailed
 information on NAICS and SOC, including background and definitions, see the BLS websites:
 http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm and http://www.bls.gov/soc/home.htm.

     In addition, several computational changes will be introduced, including rebasing all
 series to December 2005=100 from June 1989=100, and the initiation of new employment
 weights and seasonal adjustment factors.  At the same time, an improved process for imputing
 costs for missing values will be introduced.

     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, 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.

     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.

________________________________________________________________________________________



Table 1.  Employment Cost Index for total compensation(1), wages and salaries, and benefit costs by industry and
occupational group

(Seasonally adjusted data)


                                       Indexes (June                Percent changes for 3-months ended-
                                         1989=100)
   Industry and occupational group

                                        Jun.    Sep.    Dec.    Mar.    Jun.    Sep.    Dec.    Mar.    Jun.    Sep.
                                        2005    2005    2003    2004    2004    2004    2004    2005    2005    2005



         TOTAL COMPENSATION

Civilian workers.....................  177.9   179.4     0.8     1.1     0.9     0.9     0.8     0.7     0.7     0.8
 State and local government..........  175.6   177.5      .7      .9      .9      .8      .9     1.0      .7     1.1
 Private industry....................  178.4   179.8      .8     1.1      .9     1.0      .8      .6      .6      .8

              Industry

   Goods producing(2)................  178.9   180.9      .7     1.7     1.0     1.3     1.0      .5     1.0     1.1
     Construction....................  170.8   172.8      .8      .8      .5      .7      .4     1.1      .9     1.2
     Manufacturing...................  179.1   180.6     1.1     1.6     1.1     1.2     1.0      .4     1.0      .8
       Durables......................  180.7   182.3     1.1     1.7     1.2     1.3     1.1      .4     1.2      .9
       Nondurables...................  176.4   177.8     1.0     1.3      .9     1.1      .9      .3      .7      .8

   Service producing(3)..............  178.2   179.4      .9      .8      .9      .8      .7      .6      .5      .7
     Transportation and public
      utilities......................  175.2   176.9      .9     1.4     1.1      .8      .6      .2      .3     1.0
     Wholesale trade.................  178.5   181.5      .6      .6      .6     1.4      .1     1.0     -.4     1.7
     Retail trade....................  167.1   168.4     1.1      .4      .9      .3      .7      .6      .6      .8
     Finance, insurance, and real
      estate(4)......................  190.9   191.0      .4      .9      .6      .7      .6     1.6     1.1      .1
     Services........................  180.6   181.3      .9      .9     1.0      .9     1.0      .7      .6      .4

   Nonmanufacturing..................  177.4   178.7      .9      .8      .9      .8      .8      .7      .6      .7

         Occupational group

   White collar......................  181.4   182.8      .9      .9      .8      .9      .9      .9      .6      .8
   Blue collar.......................  173.3   174.6     1.0     1.5     1.0     1.0      .9      .2      .8      .8
   Service...........................  171.9   173.1      .9      .9      .9      .5      .7      .2      .6      .7



         WAGES AND SALARIES

Civilian workers.....................  168.2   169.2      .5      .6      .6      .7      .5      .6      .6      .6
 State and local government..........  167.3   168.5      .5      .6      .5      .4      .6      .8      .5      .7
 Private industry....................  168.4   169.4      .6      .6      .6      .7      .4      .6      .6      .6

              Industry

   Goods producing(2)(4).............  164.8   166.0      .3      .8      .6      .9      .1      .7      .7      .7
     Construction....................  159.1   160.6      .6      .6      .4      .6      .3      .3      .8      .9
     Manufacturing(4)................  166.4   167.4     0.3     0.7     0.7     0.9     0.1     0.8     0.7     0.6
       Durables(4)...................  167.1   168.1      .2      .6      .6     1.0      .1      .7      .7      .6
       Nondurables...................  165.1   166.2      .6      .7      .7      .8      .4      .6      .5      .7

   Service producing(3)..............  169.9   170.8      .7      .5      .5      .7      .6      .5      .5      .5
     Transportation and public
      utilities(4)...................  161.1   162.4      .3      .7     1.0      .8      .1     -.4      .8      .8
     Wholesale trade.................  168.5   171.6      .7      .2      .4     1.6     -.8      .8     -.6     1.8
     Retail trade....................  161.3   162.7      .4      .4      .6      .1      .6      .6      .6      .9
     Finance, insurance, and real
      estate(4)......................  181.2   180.9      .2      .4      .1      .7      .7      .8     1.1     -.2
     Services........................  174.3   174.8      .8      .7      .8      .8      .8      .7      .5      .3

   Nonmanufacturing..................  168.6   169.5      .7      .6      .5      .7      .6      .5      .5      .5
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued

         Occupational group

   White collar......................  172.2   173.2     0.7     0.5     0.6     0.8     0.6     0.5     0.5     0.6
   Blue collar(4)....................  162.1   163.0      .3      .7      .7      .8      .3      .6      .8      .6
   Service(4)........................  162.3   163.2      .4      .4      .6      .3      .5      .5      .6      .6



            BENEFIT COSTS

Civilian workers.....................  202.0   204.7     1.5     2.2     1.6     1.4     1.6     1.2      .8     1.3
 State and local government..........  195.4   198.7     1.3     1.6     1.8     1.6     1.5     1.5     1.2     1.7
 Private industry....................  203.6   206.2     1.5     2.2     1.7     1.3     1.6     1.1      .8     1.3

              Industry

   Goods producing(2)................  208.2   211.7     1.5     3.4     1.5     2.0     2.3      .9     1.4     1.7
     Manufacturing...................  207.4   210.8     1.8     3.9     1.8     2.1     1.9      .4     1.5     1.6

   Service producing(3)..............  200.9   202.9     1.5     1.5     1.7      .9     1.2     1.2      .4     1.0

   Nonmanufacturing..................  202.3   204.6     1.4     1.5     1.7     1.0     1.5     1.2      .6     1.1

         Occupational group

   White collar......................  207.7   210.7     1.4     1.6     1.5     1.4     1.6     1.7      .9     1.4
   Blue collar.......................  198.3   200.7     1.6     3.1     1.9     1.6     1.6     -.1      .8     1.2
   Service...........................  201.2   203.4     2.0     2.2     1.7     1.2     1.2     -.3      .9     1.1

  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; and service industries.
  4 No identifiable seasonality was found for this series.



Table 2.  Employment Cost Index for total compensation(1) for civilian and State and local government workers
by industry and occupational group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)


                                      Indexes (June 1989=100)               Percent changes for-


   Industry and occupational group                                3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                        Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                        2004    2005    2005
                                                                Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                                2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005


Civilian workers.....................  173.9   177.7   179.3     1.0     0.6     0.9     3.8     3.2     3.1
    Excluding sales occupations......  173.9   178.0   179.5      .9      .6      .8     3.7     3.3     3.2

              Industry

  Goods producing(2).................  173.4   178.5   179.8      .9      .8      .7     4.6     3.8     3.7
    Manufacturing....................  174.9   179.6   180.7     1.0      .8      .6     5.0     3.7     3.3
  Service producing(3)...............  174.0   177.4   179.1     1.0      .5     1.0     3.4     3.0     2.9
    Services.........................  174.5   177.8   179.6     1.3      .5     1.0     3.6     3.2     2.9
      Health services................  176.7   181.1   182.7     1.3      .7      .9     4.4     3.8     3.4
        Hospitals....................  180.5   185.5   187.6     1.3      .7     1.1     4.3     4.1     3.9
      Educational services...........  171.8   174.5   178.1     1.7      .3     2.1     2.9     3.3     3.7
    Public administration(4).........  174.1   178.3   181.1     1.6      .4     1.6     4.1     4.0     4.0

  Nonmanufacturing...................  173.5   177.1   178.8     1.0      .6     1.0     3.4     3.1     3.1

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  175.8   179.9   181.5     1.0      .6      .9     3.5     3.4     3.2
      Excluding sales................  176.2   180.6   182.1     1.0      .6      .8     3.5     3.6     3.3
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  173.6   177.6   179.6     1.4      .5     1.1     4.0     3.7     3.5
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  178.2   183.1   184.0      .6      .6      .5     2.4     3.4     3.3
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  178.7   183.3   184.7      .8      .7      .8     4.1     3.4     3.4
  Blue collar........................  170.1   173.8   174.8      .8      .8      .6     4.4     3.0     2.8
  Service............................  172.7   175.9   178.1     1.1      .6     1.3     3.5     2.9     3.1


State and local government...........  171.5   174.7   177.9     1.7      .3     1.8     3.4     3.6     3.7

              Industry

    Services.........................  169.7   172.4   175.8     1.7      .3     2.0     2.9     3.4     3.6
        Excluding schools............  173.0   176.4   179.3     1.7      .5     1.6     3.7     3.7     3.6
      Health services................  175.7   179.6   182.3     1.6      .4     1.5     3.7     3.9     3.8
        Hospitals....................  176.3   179.8   182.6     1.8      .4     1.6     3.5     3.8     3.6
      Educational services...........  168.8   171.4   174.9     1.7      .3     2.0     2.7     3.3     3.6
        Schools......................  169.2   171.7   175.2     1.7      .3     2.0     2.7     3.2     3.5
          Elementary and secondary...  168.0   170.3   174.0     2.1      .3     2.2     3.1     3.5     3.6
          Colleges and
           universities..............  172.4   175.6   178.4     0.8     0.3     1.6     1.9     2.7     3.5
    Public administration(4).........  174.1   178.3   181.1     1.6      .4     1.6     4.1     4.0     4.0

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  170.0   173.1   176.0     1.5      .3     1.7     3.1     3.3     3.5
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  168.4   171.1   174.2     1.7      .4     1.8     3.1     3.3     3.4
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  172.1   176.5   178.8      .6     -.1     1.3     2.4     3.2     3.9
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  174.3   177.7   180.4     1.5      .3     1.5     3.8     3.4     3.5
  Blue collar........................  169.9   173.8   177.4     1.4      .7     2.1     3.9     3.8     4.4
  Service............................  179.4   183.0   187.6     2.3      .5     2.5     4.3     4.4     4.6

  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 public administration.
  4 Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities of State and local
governments, SICs 91 through 96.



Table 3.  Employment Cost Index for total compensation(1) for private industry workers, by industry and
occupational group

(Not seasonally adjusted data)


                                      Indexes (June 1989=100)               Percent changes for-


   Industry and occupational group                                3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                        Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                        2004    2005    2005
                                                                Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                                2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005


Private industry workers.............  174.4   178.5   179.6     0.8     0.7     0.6     3.7     3.2     3.0
    Excluding sales occupations......  174.6   178.9   179.9      .8      .7      .6     3.9     3.3     3.0

              Industry

  Goods producing(2).................  173.3   178.5   179.7      .9      .9      .7     4.6     3.9     3.7
      Excluding sales................  172.5   177.9   179.1      .8      .9      .7     4.5     3.9     3.8
    White collar.....................  176.4   184.2   186.0     1.0     1.1     1.0     3.7     5.4     5.4
      Excluding sales................  174.5   183.0   184.7      .7     1.2      .9     3.6     5.6     5.8
    Blue collar......................  171.3   174.7   175.6      .9      .7      .5     5.2     2.9     2.5

    Construction.....................  167.0   171.0   172.9      .7     1.1     1.1     2.9     3.1     3.5

    Manufacturing....................  174.9   179.6   180.7     1.0      .8      .6     5.0     3.7     3.3
      White collar...................  176.4   183.4   184.8     1.0     1.1      .8     4.1     5.0     4.8
        Excluding sales..............  174.1   181.5   183.0      .9     1.2      .8     4.0     5.2     5.1
      Blue collar....................  173.7   176.7   177.5     1.0      .5      .5     5.9     2.7     2.2
      Durables.......................  175.8   181.2   182.3     1.0      .9      .6     5.5     4.1     3.7
        Aircraft manufacturing (SIC
         3721).......................  201.6   234.5   235.1      .3      .2      .3     9.3    16.7    16.6
          White collar...............  195.2   228.4   228.7      .2      .3      .1    10.0    17.2    17.2
          Blue collar................  210.9   242.6   243.7     1.2      .0      .5     8.8    16.5    15.6
      Nondurables....................  173.1   176.8   177.8      .8      .6      .6     4.3     3.0     2.7


  Service producing(3)...............  174.7   178.1   179.3      .8      .6      .7     3.5     2.8     2.6
      Excluding sales................  175.6   179.4   180.3      .8      .6      .5     3.5     3.0     2.7
    White collar.....................  177.3   180.7   181.9      .9      .6      .7     3.6     2.8     2.6
      Excluding sales................  179.4   183.2   184.1      .9      .4      .5     3.6     3.0     2.6
    Blue collar......................  167.4   171.5   172.4      .6      .9      .5     3.2     3.1     3.0
    Service..........................  168.1   171.1   172.1      .4      .6      .6     3.0     2.2     2.4

    Transportation and public
     utilities.......................  173.6   175.8   177.3      .6      .7      .9     4.3     1.9     2.1
      Transportation.................  166.2   166.1   167.8      .9      .4     1.0     4.3      .9     1.0
      Public utilities...............  183.6   189.2   190.4      .3     1.2      .6     4.1     3.3     3.7
        Communications...............  183.8   188.4   190.0      .1     1.3      .8     3.0     2.6     3.4
        Electric, gas, and sanitary
         services....................  183.3   190.2   190.7      .5     1.2      .3     5.5     4.3     4.0

    Wholesale and retail trade.......  169.1   171.7   173.4      .6      .5     1.0     2.9     2.1     2.5
        Excluding sales..............  169.6   173.1   174.5      .6      .5      .8     2.8     2.7     2.9
      Wholesale trade................  177.8   179.3   181.8     1.1     0.1     1.4     3.4     1.9     2.2
        Excluding sales..............  175.3   179.5   180.5      .7      .2      .6     2.4     3.2     3.0
      Retail trade...................  164.2   167.3   168.6      .3      .7      .8     2.7     2.2     2.7
        General merchandise stores...  168.8   172.1   171.9     1.6     -.1     -.1     4.7     3.5     1.8
        Food stores..................  163.5   165.9   166.6      .0      .5      .4     2.6     1.5     1.9

    Finance, insurance, and real
     estate..........................  184.8   190.9   191.0      .7     1.1      .1     2.6     4.0     3.4
        Excluding sales..............  190.0   196.1   195.2      .7      .9     -.5     2.5     3.9     2.7
      Banking, savings and loan, and
       other credit agencies.........  210.5   217.3   213.7      .8     1.7    -1.7     1.4     4.0     1.5
      Insurance......................  182.1   188.8   189.0      .9     1.3      .1     4.0     4.6     3.8
        Excluding sales..............  179.1   185.0   185.5      .6     1.1      .3     3.6     3.9     3.6

    Services.........................  176.9   180.6   181.6     1.0      .5      .6     3.8     3.1     2.7
      Business services..............  178.5   181.0   181.1      .9      .5      .1     3.8     2.3     1.5
      Health services................  177.0   181.5   182.9     1.3      .7      .8     4.5     3.8     3.3
        Hospitals....................  181.8   187.3   189.1     1.2      .8     1.0     4.5     4.2     4.0
        Nursing homes................    -       -       -        .5      .9      .9     3.1     2.6     3.0
      Educational services...........  187.0   190.9   194.9     1.5      .5     2.1     3.8     3.6     4.2
        Colleges and universities....  185.2   188.6   192.3     1.5      .5     2.0     3.8     3.3     3.8
Industry-Continued

  Nonmanufacturing industries........  173.9   177.6   178.9     0.8     0.6     0.7     3.5     3.0     2.9
    White collar.....................  177.2   181.0   182.3      .9      .6      .7     3.5     3.0     2.9
      Excluding sales................  179.3   183.6   184.5      .9      .5      .5     3.5     3.3     2.9
    Blue collar......................  166.4   170.6   171.6      .5     1.1      .6     3.3     3.1     3.1
    Service..........................  168.0   171.0   172.0      .4      .5      .6     2.9     2.2     2.4

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  177.3   181.6   183.0      .9      .7      .8     3.6     3.4     3.2
      Excluding sales................  178.3   183.2   184.2      .9      .7      .5     3.6     3.7     3.3
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  176.8   181.6   183.0     1.2      .4      .8     4.4     3.9     3.5
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  179.2   184.2   184.8      .6      .7      .3     2.4     3.4     3.1
    Sales............................  173.1   174.4   177.0     1.1      .8     1.5     3.5     1.9     2.3
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  179.4   184.3   185.4      .7      .8      .6     4.1     3.5     3.3

  Blue collar........................  170.1   173.7   174.7      .8      .8      .6     4.5     2.9     2.7
    Precision production, craft, and
     repair..........................  170.2   174.9   175.6      .7     1.0      .4     4.4     3.4     3.2
    Machine operators, assemblers,
     and inspectors..................  172.2   173.8   174.9     1.0      .3      .6     5.9     1.9     1.6
    Transportation and material
     moving..........................  161.8   165.7   167.0      .7     1.2      .8     3.3     3.2     3.2
    Handlers, equipment cleaners,
     helpers,
     and laborers....................  174.3   177.9   179.2      .6      .6      .7     3.4     2.7     2.8

  Service............................  168.9   171.9   172.9      .4      .6      .6     3.1     2.2     2.4

  Production and nonsupervisory
   occupations(4)....................  172.4   175.8   177.1      .8      .7      .7     4.0     2.8     2.7

  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; and service industries.
  4 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.



Table 4.  Employment Cost Index for total compensation(1) 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                              3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                       Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                       2004    2005    2005
                                                               Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                               2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005



         Bargaining status

Union...............................  175.3   179.0   180.4     0.8     0.8     0.8     5.8     2.9     2.9
    Blue-collar occupations.........  172.6   176.6   177.8      .8     1.0      .7     5.8     3.2     3.0

  Goods-producing industries(2).....  176.0   179.8   181.0      .8      .9      .7     6.9     3.0     2.8
  Service-producing industries(3)...  174.4   177.9   179.5      .9      .7      .9     4.7     2.9     2.9

  Manufacturing.....................  178.4   181.7   182.6      .8      .6      .5     8.1     2.7     2.4
    Blue-collar occupations.........  177.3   179.5   180.5      .8      .5      .6     8.3     2.0     1.8
  Nonmanufacturing..................  173.0   176.9   178.6      .8     1.0     1.0     4.5     3.1     3.2

Nonunion............................  174.2   178.3   179.4      .9      .7      .6     3.4     3.2     3.0
    Blue-collar occupations.........  168.6   172.1   172.9      .7      .8      .5     3.7     2.8     2.6

  Goods-producing industries(2).....  172.4   178.0   179.3      .9      .8      .7     3.8     4.2     4.0
  Service-producing industries(3)...  174.6   178.0   179.1      .8      .6      .6     3.3     2.8     2.6

  Manufacturing.....................  173.8   179.0   180.1     1.0      .8      .6     4.1     4.1     3.6
    Blue-collar occupations.........  171.2   174.7   175.4     1.1      .5      .4     4.3     3.2     2.5
  Nonmanufacturing..................  174.0   177.7   178.9      .8      .6      .7     3.3     3.0     2.8

             Region(4)

Northeast...........................  173.7   177.6   178.9      .8      .9      .7     4.1     3.1     3.0
South...............................  169.5   173.4   174.0     1.0      .5      .3     3.9     3.3     2.7
Midwest.............................  177.6   180.9   183.0      .8      .5     1.2     3.4     2.7     3.0
West................................  178.1   183.3   184.0      .7     1.0      .4     3.9     3.7     3.3

                Area

Metropolitan........................  174.6   178.6   179.9      .9      .7      .7     3.7     3.2     3.0
Other...............................  173.3   177.3   178.1      .7      .5      .5     4.3     3.0     2.8

  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; and service industries.
  4 The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 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.



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-


   Industry and occupational group                                3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                        Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                        2004    2005    2005
                                                                Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                                2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005


Civilian workers.....................  165.7   168.2   169.5     0.9     0.5     0.8     2.4     2.4     2.3
    Excluding sales occupations......  165.6   168.3   169.4      .9      .5      .7     2.4     2.5     2.3

              Industry

  Goods producing(1).................  162.3   164.9   166.0      .8      .8      .7     2.5     2.4     2.3
    Manufacturing....................  163.8   166.4   167.4      .9      .7      .6     2.6     2.5     2.2
  Service producing(2)...............  167.0   169.5   170.8      .9      .5      .8     2.5     2.4     2.3
    Services.........................  169.3   171.9   173.3     1.1      .4      .8     2.8     2.7     2.4
      Health services................  170.8   174.3   175.6     1.3      .6      .7     3.7     3.4     2.8
        Hospitals....................  171.8   175.7   177.5     1.1      .6     1.0     3.3     3.4     3.3
      Educational services...........  166.0   167.9   170.5     1.3      .2     1.5     2.0     2.5     2.7
    Public administration(3).........  162.6   165.6   167.4      .7      .4     1.1     2.0     2.6     3.0

  Nonmanufacturing...................  166.0   168.5   169.9      .9      .5      .8     2.4     2.4     2.3

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  168.7   171.1   172.5     1.0      .5      .8     2.6     2.4     2.3
      Excluding sales................  169.1   172.0   173.1      .9      .5      .6     2.5     2.6     2.4
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  166.5   168.7   170.3     1.3      .4      .9     2.9     2.6     2.3
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  173.4   176.9   177.4      .6      .6      .3     1.7     2.6     2.3
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  168.8   172.0   173.0      .8      .6      .6     2.7     2.7     2.5
  Blue collar........................  159.7   162.2   163.2      .8      .7      .6     2.5     2.4     2.2
  Service............................  162.8   165.3   166.8      .6      .5      .9     1.9     2.1     2.5


State and local government...........  164.5   166.7   168.9     1.0      .2     1.3     2.0     2.4     2.7

              Industry

    Services.........................  164.8   166.6   168.9     1.3      .2     1.4     2.0     2.4     2.5
        Excluding schools............  167.5   170.1   172.0     1.1      .4     1.1     2.6     2.7     2.7
      Health services................  169.6   172.6   174.1     1.1      .4      .9     2.7     2.9     2.7
        Hospitals....................  169.9   172.5   174.0     1.2      .3      .9     2.7     2.7     2.4
      Educational services...........  164.2   165.8   168.3     1.3      .2     1.5     1.9     2.3     2.5
        Schools......................  164.3   166.0   168.4     1.2      .2     1.4     1.8     2.3     2.5
          Elementary and secondary...  163.8   165.1   167.8     1.4      .2     1.6     2.0     2.2     2.4
          Colleges and
           universities..............  165.4   168.2   170.0     0.6     0.2     1.1     1.2     2.3     2.8
    Public administration(3).........  162.6   165.6   167.4      .7      .4     1.1     2.0     2.6     3.0

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  164.1   166.2   168.3     1.0      .2     1.3     1.9     2.3     2.6
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  164.4   166.2   168.4     1.3      .3     1.3     2.1     2.4     2.4
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  164.3   168.0   169.7      .3     -.1     1.0     1.1     2.6     3.3
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  162.6   164.0   166.1     1.1      .1     1.3     2.2     2.0     2.2
  Blue collar........................  160.7   163.2   165.3      .9      .5     1.3     2.0     2.5     2.9
  Service............................  168.5   171.2   173.9      .9      .5     1.6     2.2     2.5     3.2

  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, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities of State and local
governments, SICs 91 through 96.



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                                3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                        Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                        2004    2005    2005
                                                                Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                                2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005


Private industry workers.............  165.9   168.4   169.5     0.9     0.6     0.7     2.6     2.4     2.2
    Excluding sales occupations......  165.8   168.7   169.6      .8      .7      .5     2.5     2.6     2.3

              Industry

  Goods producing(1).................  162.3   164.8   166.0      .9      .7      .7     2.5     2.4     2.3
      Excluding sales................  161.2   164.0   165.2      .6      .7      .7     2.4     2.4     2.5
    White collar.....................  166.0   168.5   170.0      .9      .7      .9     2.5     2.4     2.4
      Excluding sales................  163.6   166.7   168.0      .6      .8      .8     2.3     2.5     2.7
    Blue collar......................  159.8   162.4   163.4      .8      .7      .6     2.5     2.4     2.3

    Construction.....................  157.1   159.2   160.9      .8     1.0     1.1     2.3     2.1     2.4

    Manufacturing....................  163.8   166.4   167.4      .9      .7      .6     2.6     2.5     2.2
      White collar...................  166.1   168.7   169.9      .9      .7      .7     2.5     2.4     2.3
        Excluding sales..............  163.5   166.5   167.7      .6      .8      .7     2.5     2.5     2.6
      Blue collar....................  162.1   164.7   165.5      .9      .7      .5     2.7     2.6     2.1
      Durables.......................  164.5   167.1   168.1     1.0      .7      .6     2.4     2.6     2.2
        Aircraft manufacturing (SIC
         3721).......................  172.4   176.1   176.6      .3      .3      .3     3.0     2.4     2.4
          White collar...............  165.7   170.4   170.5      .1      .2      .1     3.4     3.0     2.9
          Blue collar................  183.0   184.8   186.0     1.3      .5      .6     2.9     2.3     1.6
      Nondurables....................  162.8   165.3   166.3      .7      .5      .6     2.8     2.3     2.1


  Service producing(2)...............  167.5   170.0   171.1      .8      .6      .6     2.6     2.3     2.1
      Excluding sales................  168.5   171.4   172.1      .8      .6      .4     2.6     2.6     2.1
    White collar.....................  170.4   173.0   174.1      .9      .5      .6     2.7     2.4     2.2
      Excluding sales................  172.8   175.9   176.5      .9      .5      .3     2.7     2.7     2.1
    Blue collar......................  158.9   161.5   162.4      .7      .9      .6     2.5     2.3     2.2
    Service..........................  159.4   161.8   162.8      .4      .6      .6     1.8     1.9     2.1

    Transportation and public
     utilities.......................  160.4   161.1   162.4      .8      .8      .8     2.8     1.3     1.2
      Transportation.................  155.0   154.6   156.2     1.0      .8     1.0     3.1      .8      .8
      Public utilities...............  167.5   169.9   170.5      .7     1.0      .4     2.5     2.1     1.8
        Communications...............  168.8   170.3   171.0      .8     1.1      .4     2.1     1.7     1.3
        Electric, gas, and sanitary
         services....................  165.9   169.2   169.8      .5      .8      .4     3.0     2.5     2.4

    Wholesale and retail trade.......  162.5   164.1   165.9      .6      .4     1.1     2.1     1.5     2.1
        Excluding sales..............  163.5   166.3   167.7      .4      .5      .8     1.7     2.1     2.6
      Wholesale trade................  169.7   169.4   171.7     1.1    -0.1     1.4     3.0     1.0     1.2
        Excluding sales..............  168.6   171.5   172.2      .6      .0      .4     1.8     2.3     2.1
      Retail trade...................  158.7   161.4   162.9      .2      .7      .9     1.5     1.9     2.6
        General merchandise stores...  157.5   159.0   159.0     1.7     -.2      .0     2.9     2.6     1.0
        Food stores..................  154.5   156.7   157.5      .1      .6      .5     1.5     1.6     1.9

    Finance, insurance, and real
     estate..........................  176.5   181.2   180.9      .7     1.1     -.2     1.4     3.4     2.5
        Excluding sales..............  181.8   186.5   184.6      .7     1.0    -1.0     1.5     3.3     1.5
      Banking, savings and loan, and
       other credit agencies.........  209.5   215.4   210.2      .9     2.2    -2.4      .2     3.8      .3
      Insurance......................  168.9   173.7   173.9     1.0     1.2      .1     3.1     3.9     3.0
        Excluding sales..............  164.6   168.5   168.9      .5      .8      .2     2.6     2.9     2.6

    Services.........................  171.1   174.2   175.1     1.1      .5      .5     3.1     2.9     2.3
      Business services..............  174.3   176.5   176.5      .9      .6      .0     3.1     2.2     1.3
      Health services................  170.9   174.6   175.8     1.2      .7      .7     3.8     3.4     2.9
        Hospitals....................  172.4   176.7   178.5     1.1      .7     1.0     3.5     3.6     3.5
        Nursing homes................    -       -       -        .5      .9      .7     2.5     2.8     2.9
      Educational services...........  175.5   178.6   182.1     1.7      .4     2.0     3.1     3.5     3.8
        Colleges and universities....  172.9   175.5   178.4     1.7      .5     1.7     3.2     3.2     3.2
Industry-Continued

  Nonmanufacturing industries........  166.2   168.7   169.8     0.8     0.6     0.7     2.5     2.4     2.2
    White collar.....................  170.1   172.7   173.8      .9      .6      .6     2.7     2.4     2.2
      Excluding sales................  172.3   175.4   176.1      .9      .6      .4     2.7     2.8     2.2
    Blue collar......................  157.1   159.7   160.7      .6      .9      .6     2.4     2.3     2.3
    Service..........................  159.2   161.7   162.7      .3      .6      .6     1.7     1.9     2.2

         Occupational group

  White collar.......................  169.7   172.3   173.5      .9      .6      .7     2.7     2.4     2.2
      Excluding sales................  170.6   173.7   174.5      .8      .6      .5     2.6     2.7     2.3
    Professional specialty and
     technical.......................  167.6   170.0   171.2     1.3      .4      .7     3.4     2.7     2.1
    Executive, administrative, and
     managerial......................  174.9   178.4   178.7      .6      .7      .2     1.8     2.6     2.2
    Sales............................  165.9   166.0   168.9     1.2      .7     1.7     2.7     1.3     1.8
    Administrative support, including
     clerical........................  169.7   173.3   174.1      .7      .8      .5     2.8     2.8     2.6

  Blue collar........................  159.5   162.1   163.0      .8      .8      .6     2.5     2.4     2.2
    Precision production, craft, and
     repair..........................  159.3   162.0   162.9      .6     1.0      .6     2.4     2.3     2.3
    Machine operators, assemblers,
     and inspectors..................  161.6   163.7   164.5     1.1      .7      .5     3.1     2.4     1.8
    Transportation and material
     moving..........................  152.9   156.0   157.3      .7     1.0      .8     2.1     2.8     2.9
    Handlers, equipment cleaners,
     helpers,
     and laborers....................  163.6   165.9   167.0      .6      .2      .7     2.3     2.0     2.1

  Service............................  159.8   162.3   163.2      .3      .6      .6     1.7     1.9     2.1

  Production and nonsupervisory
   occupations(3)....................  163.1   165.5   166.7      .9      .6      .7     2.7     2.4     2.2

  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 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.



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                              3 months ended-         12 months ended-
                                       Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                       2004    2005    2005
                                                               Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                               2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005



         Bargaining status

Union...............................  160.0   162.1   163.4     0.8     0.8     0.8     3.0     2.1     2.1
    Blue-collar occupations.........  156.7   159.3   160.5      .8     1.0      .8     2.6     2.4     2.4

  Goods-producing industries(1).....  158.7   161.1   162.2      .8      .9      .7     2.5     2.3     2.2
  Service-producing industries(2)...  161.7   163.6   164.9      .9      .8      .8     3.5     2.1     2.0

  Manufacturing.....................  160.5   162.8   163.8      .8      .8      .6     2.4     2.3     2.1
    Blue-collar occupations.........  159.2   161.3   162.3      .9      .8      .6     2.6     2.2     1.9
  Nonmanufacturing..................  159.6   161.7   163.1      .8      .9      .9     3.2     2.1     2.2

Nonunion............................  167.0   169.6   170.7      .8      .6      .6     2.5     2.4     2.2
    Blue-collar occupations.........  161.4   164.0   164.7      .7      .8      .4     2.5     2.4     2.0

  Goods-producing industries(1).....  163.8   166.4   167.5      .9      .7      .7     2.6     2.5     2.3
  Service-producing industries(2)...  168.0   170.7   171.7      .8      .6      .6     2.4     2.5     2.2

  Manufacturing.....................  165.2   167.8   168.8      .9      .6      .6     2.7     2.5     2.2
    Blue-collar occupations.........  164.1   166.9   167.6      .9      .5      .4     2.7     2.6     2.1
  Nonmanufacturing..................  167.1   169.7   170.8      .8      .6      .6     2.5     2.4     2.2

             Region(3)

Northeast...........................  164.9   167.3   168.5      .8      .8      .7     3.1     2.3     2.2
South...............................  161.6   164.4   165.0      .9      .5      .4     2.7     2.7     2.1
Midwest.............................  169.2   171.3   173.6      .9      .4     1.3     1.9     2.1     2.6
West................................  169.1   171.9   172.2      .7      .9      .2     2.7     2.4     1.8

                Area

Metropolitan........................  166.3   168.8   169.9      .8      .7      .7     2.5     2.4     2.2
Other...............................  163.3   166.3   167.2      .7      .7      .5     2.8     2.6     2.4

  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, Iowa, 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.



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.
                                       2004    2005    2005
                                                               Sep.    Jun.    Sep.    Sep.    Jun.    Sep.
                                                               2004    2005    2005    2004    2005    2005


Civilian workers....................  195.2   202.8   205.1     1.2     0.7     1.1     6.8     5.1     5.1
 State and local government.........  188.3   194.0   199.8     2.9      .5     3.0     6.4     6.0     6.1
 Private industry...................  196.9   204.9   206.4      .8      .8      .7     6.8     4.9     4.8

              Industry

   Goods producing(1)...............  198.1   209.4   210.9     1.0     1.2      .7     8.7     6.7     6.5
   Service producing(2).............  195.5   201.6   203.1      .7      .5      .7     5.8     3.9     3.9

   Manufacturing....................  199.2   208.8   210.1     1.2     1.0      .6    10.0     6.0     5.5
     Aircraft manufacturing (SIC
      3721).........................  265.2   362.1   362.8      .5      .1      .2    19.8    37.2    36.8
       White collar.................  265.9   368.3   369.0      .2      .4      .2    21.6    38.8    38.8
       Blue collar..................  262.9   350.5   351.2     1.2     -.4      .2    17.4    34.9    33.6
   Nonmanufacturing.................  195.7   203.0   204.6      .7      .7      .8     5.7     4.5     4.5

         Occupational group

   White collar.....................  199.1   208.5   210.4      .9      .8      .9     6.1     5.6     5.7
   Blue collar......................  193.3   199.4   200.3      .8      .8      .5     8.4     4.0     3.6
   Service..........................  197.5   202.0   203.1      .7      .5      .5     7.3     3.0     2.8

         Bargaining status

   Union............................  205.0   211.7   213.5      .8      .8      .9    10.6     4.1     4.1
   Nonunion.........................  194.6   202.9   204.3      .8      .8      .7     5.9     5.1     5.0

  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.


                             EXPLANATORY NOTE

     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, Medicare, 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.

     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.  Employees in occupations included in the survey
 receive cash payments from the establishment for services performed and the establishment
 pays the employer's portion of Medicare taxes on that individual's wages.
 Major exclusions from the survey are the self-employed, individuals who set their
 own pay (for example proprietors, owners, major stockholders, and partners in
 unincorporated firms), volunteers, unpaid workers, family members being paid token
 wages, individuals receiving long-term disability compensation, and U.S. citizens
 working overseas.

     Data for this quarter were collected from a probability sample of approximately
 41,000 occupational observations within about 9,500 sample establishments in private
 industry and approximately 3,500 occupations within about 800 sample establishments
 in State and local governments.  Data are collected for the pay period including
 the 12th day of the survey months of March, June, September, and December.

     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 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 2005 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 of the economy 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 one 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 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 numbers of workers may have larger sampling errors or be dominated
 by a smaller number of employers.  For more information, see the web site:
 (http://www.bls.gov/ect/escalator.htm).

     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 bulletins, articles, and other descriptive pieces are
 available on the BLS website (http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm), by calling
 (202) 691-6199, or sending e-mail to (ocltinfo@bls.gov).

     Historical and supplemental data series from the ECI are available upon request
 or at the Internet site http://www.bls.gov/ect/home.htm.  Historical data are
 available beginning with the first publication of each series at
 (http://www.bls.gov/web/echistry.pdf) or (ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/suppl/eci.echistry.txt).
 Supplemental data from the ECI, providing 12-month percent changes in employer costs
 for health insurance in private industry, are also available at
 (http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/sp/echealth.pdf) beginning with June 1982.

     In addition, constant-dollar ECI series derived from the Consumer Price Index
 for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) are available.  The constant dollar series are
 calculated by converting the CPI-U to the same base as the ECI, June 1989=100.
 The ECI for each quarter is divided by the converted CPI-U for the same reference period.
 The CPI-U U.S. City Average All Items is used to compute all series except for the
 regional estimates, which use corresponding CPI regional data.  Data dating back
 to the first publication of each series are available at the Internet sites
 (http://www.bls.gov/web/ecconst.pdf), (ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/suppl/eci.ecconst.txt)
 or upon request.

     The costs per hour worked of compensation components, based on data from
 the ECI, were recently published in a separate news release titled "Employer Costs
 for Employee Compensation-June 2005."  The release is available by e-mail request
 at ocltinfo@bls.gov, by telephone at (202) 691-6199, or on the Internet site
 http://www.bls.gov/ect/home.htm.  Historical data and related articles are included
 in the bulletin, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, 1986-99, (Bulletin 2526).
 Also available is an annual historical summary from March 1986 through March 2003 on
 the Internet site (http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm) or upon request.  Data on a
 quarterly basis beginning with June 2002 are also available.  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.