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
a . 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. Dec. Mar. -
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Bargaining status
Union 126.0 | 128.9 | 129.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 26 28 29
Blue-collar occupations .. 123.6 126.7 127.2 2 6 4 2.2 27 29
Goods-producing industries 124.1 127.1 127.9 4 4 6 23 28 3.1
Service-producing industries? 128.2 131.2 131.8 5 6 5 27 28 28
Manufacturing ... 125.6 | 128.6 | 129.6 3 & 8 2.2 27 3.2
Blue-collar occupations... 125.4 128.4 | 129.0 3 6 5 25 27 2.9
Nonmanufacturing ... 126.1 129.1 129.6 5 4 4 27 29 2.8
Nonunion 129.1 133.0 | 134.5 11 1 14 3.4 42 4.2
Blue-collar occupations . 127.5 | 130.6 | 132.0 1.0 7 11 3.2 3.4 3.5
Goods-producing industries! .. 128.9 | 132.0 | 133.6 7 6 1.2 3.2 3.1 3.6
Service-producing industries? 129.1 133.2 | 134.6 1.3 1.2 11 3.6 45 43
Manufacturing 130.3 | 133.5 | 135.1 5 7 1.2 3.2 3.0 3.7
Blue-collar occupations .. 129.8 | 133.0 | 134.4 8 _ 8 Ww 35 3.3 3.5
Nonmanufacturing .... 128.5 | 132.6 | 134.0 1.2 WW 14 3.5 44 43
Region?

128.8 | 131.6 | 132.6 9 7 & 34 3.41 3.0
128.5 | 133.0 | 134.0 1.2 1.8 8 3.5 47 43
129.0 | 133.0 | 134.7 1.0 6 1.3 3.1 42 44
127.7 | 131.2 | 132.9 9 8 1.3 3.6 3.7 41
Metropolitan 128.7 | 132.3 | 133.8 1.0 9 11 3.3 3.8 4.0
Other .... 127.7 | 132.0 | 132.5 a 1.2 4 3.5 43 3.8

1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing.

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

3 ‘The regional coverage is as follows: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin; and West: Alaska, Arizona, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
‘Wyoming.

NOTE: The indexes for these series are not strictly comparable to those
for the aggregate, occupation, and industry series.


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

occupational group
(Seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June Percent changes for 3-months ended—
1989=100)
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Mar.
1997 1998 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1998
TOTAL COMPENSATION
Civilian workers ... 135.2 | 136.1 09 0.6 07 07 08 08 1.0 07
State and local government 135.4 | 136.5 6 6 7 6 5 6 6 8
Private industry .. 135.1 136.0 9 7 7 6 9 8 1.0 7
Industry
Goods producing? 134.2 | 135.0 go 6 7 3 9 8 4 6
Construction? 130.0 | 130.9 5 4 9 6 8 7 5 7
Manufacturing 135.3 | 136.3 9 8 7 3 8 7 5 7
Durables .... 135.8 | 136.5 14 6 6 2 8 7 6 5
Nondurables 134.6 | 135.8 4 1.2 7 A 9 8 5 9
Service producing? ... 135.5 | 136.5 8 7 7 8 8 9 13 7
Transportation and public utilities | 134.2 135.5 8 5 a) A 7 8& 1.0 1.0
Wholesale trade . 135.3 | 137.8 11 7 BS) 1.4 4 8 5 18
Retail trade .... 131.7 | 133.4 A 1.0 V1 1 7 a) 6 1.3
Finance, insurance, and real
estate$5 134.5 | 136.7 14 3 6 24 6 9 3.1 1.6
Services 138.6 | 139.2 8 8 6 7 9 1.0 1.2 4
Nonmanufacturing .... 134.9 | 135.9 a 6 8 8 8 8 1.3 7
Occupational group
White collar 136.9 | 138.0 8 a 6 8 8 9 3 8
132.5 | 133.1 7 4 a 3 8 8 7 5
133.5 | 134.9 7 3) 10 3 9 1.6 5 1.0
WAGES AND SALARIES
Civilian workers ... 132.8 133.9 1.0 7 7 8 9 9 1 8
State and local government 134.1 135.1 8 6 8 6 6 7 8 7
Private industry .. 132.5 | 133.6 1.0 7 7 9 Q 1.0 11 8
Industry
Goods producing .. 130.6 | 192.0 1.0 8 6 6 4 8 5 1
Construction? 125.1 126.3 8 6 7 Ww a 8 6 1.0
ManufacturingS 132.2 | 133.7 2 9 5 5 a 8 a 11
Durables5 .. 131.9 | 133.4 11 9 5 5 9 8 5 1
Nondurables 132.7 | 134.2 4 WwW 7 5 9 8 a) 11
Service producing? ... .-| 133.3 | 134.3 1.0 7 8 9 9 1 1.4 8
Transportation and public utilities | 131.2 | 131.9 6 7 8 8 8 9 8 5
Wholesale trade’ .. 133.6 136.5 1.0 6 a 1.6 2 8 5 22
Retail trade ... 130.6 | 132.0 0 1.0 14 1.0 1.0 a 7 Ww
Finance, insurance, and real
estates .. 130.6 | 132.6 18 2 0 19 6 a 3.3 15
Services .. 136.2 | 137.1 1.0 7 6 9 1 1.2 Ww a
Nonmanufacturing .... 132.3 | 133.4 1.0 & 1.0 a 9 1.0 1.3 8

‘See footnotes at end of table.


10

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

region, and area

(Not seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for

Bargaining status, region, and area Mar. Dec. Mar. 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998

Bargaining status
Union .... 131.0 | 133.5 | 134.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.9 241 23
Blue-collar occupations 128.9 131.6 | 131.8 At} 38 2 1.7 241 2.2
Goods-producing industries? 130.0 | 132.5 | 132.7 2 2 2 1.6 21 24
Service-producing industries? . 131.9 134.5 135.3 2 4 & 22 21 26
Manufacturing ...... 130.8 | 133.3 | 133.6 2 2 2 1.6 21 21
Blue-collar occupations 130.5 | 133.0 | 133.1 3 3 A 1.7 22 2.0
Nonmanufacturing .. 130.6 | 133.2 | 133.9 2 2 5 2.0 a1 25
Nonunion ..... 131.8 | 135.3 | 136.7 14 1.0 1.0 3.2 3.8 37
Blue-collar occupations 129.9 | 132.6 | 133.8 8 6 9 29 29 3.0
Goods-producing industries? 132.0 | 134.7 | 135.9 5 5 a 2.9 26 3.0
Service-producing industries ... 131.5 135.3 136.7 1.2 1.2 1.0 3.3 42 4.0
Manufacturing .. . 183.1 135.9 | 137.2 5 6 1.0 29 26 3.4
Blue-collar occupations 132.2 | 134.8 | 136.0 6 4 x) 3.2 2.6 29
Nonmanufacturing .. 131.1 134.9 | 136.3 1.2 1 1.0 3.2 41 4.0
Region+
Northeast 132.2 | 135.0 | 136.0 8 7 7 26 3.0 29
South .. 130.8 | 134.6 | 135.5 8 1.6 7 3.0 3.8 3.6
Midwest 133.3 | 136.9 | 138.3 a 5 1.0 29 3.6 3.8
West ... 130.3 | 133.4 | 135.2 11 7 1.3 3.5 3.5 3.8
Area

Metropolitan 131.7 | 135.1 136.4 8 Bs) 1.0 29 3.4 3.6
Other 131.4 | 135.3 | 135.9 9 11 4 3.3 3.9 3.4

1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits.
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, 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
5 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Civilian WOrkers .......ssccsessssosssecsennnssosennnen 132.0 | 135.2 | 136.3 08 08 0.8 2.9 3.3 3.3
Excluding sales occupations ... 132.1 135.3 136.4 7 8 8 27 34 3.3
Industry :
Goods producing? .. 131.5 134.1 135.1 5 4 7 25 24 27
Manufacturing 132.6 | 135.3 | 136.4 4 5 8 26 24 29
Service producing’ .... 132.1 | 135.5 | 136.8 a) 1.0 1.0 3.0 3.5 3.6
Services ...... 134.1 137.6 | 138.3 7 8 5 2.8 3.3 34
Health services .. 135.2 | 137.9 | 138.0 6 a A 2.0 26 24
Hospitals 134.2 | 136.7 | 137.4 3 8 3 1.4 22 22
Educational services 134.0 137.0 187.5 1 4 4 27 23 26
Public administration‘ ... 133.0 | 135.1 | 136.4 9 7 1.0 29 25 2.6
Nonmanufacturing ..... 131.7 | 135.1 136.2 9 1.0 8 3.0 3.5 3.4
Occupational group
White collar .. 133.1 | 136.5 | 137.7 a) 1.0 9 34 3.5 3.5
Excluding sale: 136.9 | 138.1 8 1.0 9 29 3.4 3.4
ical . 136.7 | 137.5 5 7 6 24 27 28
Executive, administrative, and managerial ... 137.3 | 139.1 1.3 15 1.3 37 44 44
Administrative support, including clerical ......] 133.6 | 136.9 | 138.0 8 8 8 27 3.2 3.3
Blue collar 129.8 132.4 133.2 5 5 6 24 26 26
Service ........ 132.0 | 135.6 | 136.9 8 7 1.0 34 3.5 37
State and local government... 133.2 | 135.7 | 136.5 A 5 a) 25 2.3 25
Industry
133.2 | 186.0 | 136.5 A 4 4 25 22 25
132.5 135.3 136.1 4 7 6 17 25 27
134.5 | 137.2 | 137.9 3 a9 5 1.5 23 25
134.8 | 137.6 | 138.4 4 1.0 6 17 25 27
Educational services 133.1 135.9 | 136.3 a A 3 26 2.2 2.4
Schools 133.4 | 186.2 | 136.6 0 “4 3 26 24 24
Elementary 133.1 | 135.8 | 136.1 0 2 2 22 2.0 23
Colleges and universities 134.3 | 137.2 | 137.9 2 7 5 3.8 24 27
Public administration ..........ss 133.0 | 135.1 | 136.4 9 7 1.0 29 25 2.6
Occupational group
White collar .. seseonvecoesscon 132.9 135.5 | 136.1 3 5 4 25 23 24
Professional specialty and technical ... | 132.5 135.1 135.6 2 4 4 2.6 24 2.3
Executive, administrative, and managerial ...|_ 134.1 136.4 | 137.5 9 & 8 2.6 26 25
Administrative support, including clerical ......|. 133.3 | 136.1 136.9 2 6 6 2.5 23 27
seoonssssvecesses 132.1 134.2 135.0 7 7 6 24 23 2.2
135.6 | 137.8 | 139.4 8 & 1.2 28 25 28
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. 4 Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory
3 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. activities of State and local governments, SIC’s 91 through 96.
3 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale © Formerly called hospitals and other services.
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and 6 This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news

Public administration. release.


6

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

(Seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June
1989=100) Percent changes for 3-months ended—
Industry and occupational group
Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.
1997 1998 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998
WAGES AND SALARIES-Continued
Occupational group
White collar 134.4 | 135.6 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.9 09 Ww 1.3 0.9
Blue collar 129.1 130.2 1.0 5 & 7 1.0 8 6 a)
Service ... 130.8 | 132.1 8 7 Ww 9 1.0 1.6 7 1.0
BENEFIT COSTS
Civilian workers ......... 141.1 141.6 7 5 & 3 5 5 8&8 4
State and local government ... 138.5 139.6 5 4 7 A 3 3 3 8
Private industry .... 141.7 142.1 7 6 6 a 6 5 9 3
Industry
Goods producing? 141.8 | 141.4 7 3 a “A & 6 2 +3
Manufacturing .. 142.0 144.5 8 4 a 3 8 5 4 -4
Service producing4 141.7 142.5 6 8 A 4 6 1.4 6
Nonmanufacturing ... 141.7 142.5 6 7 5 4 6 5 anu &
Occupational group
White collar 143.8 144.5 & 7 6 A 5 3 1.4 5
Blue collar . 139.0 139.2 6 A 7 a 4 6 2 A
Service ........ 141.8 143.4 A “A 8&8 8&8 a) 1.4 2 11
1 Includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. 4 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale
Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries.
This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news 5 No identifiable seasonality was found for this series.

release.


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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Industry-Continued
Nonmanufactu: 131.1 134.7 | 136.0 1.0 WW 1.0 3.1 3.8 3.7
White collar 132.7 136.5 137.9 1.2 1.2 1.0 3.3 44 3.9
Excluding 134.0 137.9 139.3 11 1.2 1.0 3.4 44 4.0
Blue collar 127.5 130.1 131.0 & 5 7 23 27 27
Service .. 129.4 | 133.8 | 134.9 6 8 8 3.3 4.0 4.3
Occupational group
White coliar ..... 133.1 136.7 | 138.1 14 VW 1.0 3.2 3.8 3.8
Excluding sales 133.7 | 137.4 | 138.8 3 Ww 1.0 2.9 3.7 3.8
Professional speci: . 134.6 | 137.8 | 138.8 7 & 7 2.3 3.1 3.4
Executive, administrative, and managerial 133.0 | 137.4 | 139.4 1.3 1.6 15 3.9 46 48
Sales .... 130.1 133.5 | 135.3 1.6 1.0 1.3 4.2 4.2 4.0
Administrative support, including
clerical .... 133.7 | 137.0 | 138.2 9 8&8 9 28 3.4 3.4
Blue collar .... 129.6 | 132.3 | 133.1 5 5 & 24 26 27
Precision production, craft, and repaii 129.6 | 131.9 | 132.9 4 2 8&8 25 22 25
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors ... | 130.0 | 133.0 | 133.6 4 & 5 23 27 28
Transportation and material moving .. | 126.1 128.9 129.3 7 7 3 1.8 3.0 25
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers .... 132.8 135.8 187.0 11 1.2 a) 3.3 3.4 3.2
129.8 134.1 135.3 7 8 a) 3.2 4.0 42
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations> 131.1 134.2 | 135.3 8 8 8 2.8 3.2 3.2
1 includes wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. 5 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the
2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. Hourly Eamings Index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
3 This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news
release.
includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.

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


‘ United States bs
; Department wy
of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical contact: (202)606-6199 ocltinfo@bls.gov USDL: 98-170

Media contact:  (202)606-5902 hoyle_k@bls.gov TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS

Internet: _http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome-htm EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:30 AM EDT, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1998

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX - MARCH 1998

The Employment Cost Index (ECT) for March 1998 was 136.3 (June 1989=100), an increase of 3.3
percent from March 1997, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The ECI
measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee
benefits.

Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted

On a seasonally adjusted basis, compensation costs for civilian workers (private industry plus state and
local governments) rose 0.7 percent during the December 1997-March 1998 period. Three-month increases in
compensation costs have ranged from 0.6 percent to 1.0 percent for the last seven years. Wages and salaries
increased 0.8 percent during the December 1997-March 1998 period. The increase was 1.1 percent in the .

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

Compensation Component _96 96 96 97 97 97 97 98

Civilian workers
Compensation costs 09 06 OF O07 O8 O08 10 07
Wages and salaries 10 07 O7 08 O09 O09 11 08
Benefit costs 07 #05 O06 03 O5 O05 O8 04
Private industry
Compensation costs 09 #07 07 06 O09 O08 10 07
Wages and salaries 10 07 O07 #O9 O09 10 11 08
Benefit costs 07 06 #06 O1 06 O5 O09 03
State and local government
Compensation costs 06 06 O07 O06 O05 06 O06 08
Wages and salaries 08 06 O08 06 06 O07 O8 07
Benefit costs 0.5 04 #07 04 03 03 0.3 08

NOTES (See page 3 for details)
1. This release incorporates new seasonal adjustment factors.

2. BLS is evaluating the statistical reliability of ECI series. Some series may be discontinued.


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
5 3 months ended— 12 months ended-
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec, Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Private industry workers ......... 128.6 | 132.3 | 133.7 1.0 1.0 11 3.4 3.9 4.0
Excluding sales occupations .. 128.6 132.4 133.7 a) 3 1.0 3.1 3.8 4.0
Industry
Goods producing! . 127.5 | 130.6 132.0 & 5 11 29 3.0 3.5
Excluding sales 127.0 | 130.0 131.3 6 5 1.0 28 29 34
White collar .......... 130.0 132.9 135.0 7 5 1.6 3.0 29 3.8
128.9 131.6 133.3 6 5 1.3 29 27 3.4
126.0 129.2 130.1 6 6 7 29 31 3.3
122.0 124.9 126.0 1.0 2 ce) 31 3.4 3.3
129.1 132.2 133.7 5 7 11 3.0 3.0 3.6
White collar .......... 130.6 133.6 135.6 A 6 15 28 27 3.8
Excluding sales 129.3 | 132.2 133.8 3 7 1.2 26 26 3.5
Blue collar 128.0 | 131.2 | 132.3 5 8 8 3.4 3.1 3.4
Durables easseneeae 129.0 | 131.9 | 133.4 5 5 141 34 27 3.4
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) 132.0 | 134.0 | 135.1 8&8 5 8 23 24 23
White collar 127.8 129.8 131.2 1.0 4 ww 3.0 2.6 27
Blue collar .. 137.7 | 139.6 | 140.1 4 9 4 1.2 18 17
Nondurables .. 129.3 | 132.6 | 134.2 & 9 12 28 3.2 3.8
Service producing? 129.0 | 133.1 | 134.4 1.2 1.2 1.0 34 4.4 42
Excluding sales .. 129.7 133.9 135.2 VW 1.2 1.0 3.3 44 42
White collar 130.1 134.3 135.7 1.2 1.3 1.0 3.6 45 43
Excluding sales .. 131.5 135.9 137.3 1.2 1.3 1.0 3.4 46 44
Blue collar ... 126.0 128.9 130.2 1.0 8 1.0 27 3.3 3.3
Service .... 126.5 131.0 132.1 7 a 8 3.7 43 44
Transportation and public utilities 128.2 131.3 132.1 a) a) & 29 3.4 3.0
Transportation? .. 126.5 | 129.5 | 130.1 1.4 8 5 29 38 28
Public utilities 130.1 133.5 134.5 2 11 7 28 2.9 3.4
Communications sees 129.8 134.0 134.4 ~4 17 3 29 28 3.5
Electric, gas, and sanitary services ......| 130.4 | 132.9 | 134.7 11 5 14 27 3.0 3.3
Wholesale and retail trade 128.5 | 131.6 | 133.3 1.2 5 1.3 3.7 3.6 3.7
Excluding sales .. 129.3 | 133.2 | 134.7 1.3 8 11 3.9 43 42
Wholesale trade2 131.4 | 133.6 | 136.2 1.4 5 1.9 42 34 3.7
Excluding sales? 131.8 | 135.0 | 136.5 15 8 141 4.4 4.0 3.6
Retail trade ..... 127.1 | 130.6 | 131.9 1.0 5 1.0 3.5 3.8 3.8
General merchandise stores? 125.0 | 128.4 | 129.4 2 1.3. 8 3.3 3.0 3.5
Food stores? .....cssssccssssees 124.8 | 127.0 | 129.0 a 2 1.6 3.6 1.8 3.4
Finance, insurance, and real estate? 124.5 | 130.6 | 132.6 1.9 3.3 15 3.9 69 65
Excluding sales? .. 127.2 | 133.6 | 135.9 1.5 3.3 17 3.1 6.6 6.8
Banking, savings and loan, and other

credit agencies2 125.9 138.3 140.9 1.7 7.3 1.9 2.6 11.7 11.9
Insurance? .. reonsee 127.9 130.2 133.1 15 1.2 2.2 3.5 3.3 41
Excluding sales? 131.6 133.7 134.7 15 & 7 2.8 3.1 24
SOMICES 00000 131.8 | 136.2 | 137.2 1.0 11 7 3.3 44 44
Business services? 131.4 137.3 137.6 1.0 1.8 2 3.5 5.5 47
Health services 132.5 135.4 136.2 8 8 6 25 3.0 28
Hospitals 130.7 133.2 133.6 3 8 3 1.7 2.2 22
Nursing homes - - - 11 8 1.3 3.1 B41 3.3
Educational services 134.5 | 138.4 | 139.1 5 4 5 3.4 3.4 3.4
Colleges and universities 134.6 138.7 139.1 & 7 3 3.1 3.7 3.3

‘See footnotes at end of table.


i

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

(Not seasonally adjusted data)

Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for
A 3 months ended— 12 months ended—
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Civilian Worker .........sssssssesee0e 129.2 | 132.8 | 134.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 3.3 3.8 37
Excluding sales occupations .. 129.2 132.8 | 134.0 a 8 a) 3.1 3.7 3.7
Industry
Goods producing? .... 127.6 | 130.6 | 132.0 6 5 11 3.0 3.0 3.4
Manufacturing .... 129.1 132.2 133.7 5 7 11 3.0 3.0 3.6
Service producing? 129.8 | 133.6 | 134.8 1.0 14 a) 3.3 4.0 3.9
Services ......... 132.0 136.0 136.9 7 a 7 341 3.7 3.7
Health services 132.4 | 135.4 | 136.2 8 8 6 24 3.0 29
Hospitals 131.0 183.6 | 134.2 A 8 4 19 2.4 24
Educational 132.5 135.9 136.3 2 4 3 2.9 27 29
Public administrations .. 128.9 | 131.4 | 132.7 9 8 1.0 3.2 29 29
Nonmanufacturing .... eevessveenezee 129.1 132.8 134.0 1.0 1.0 a 3.3 3.9 3.8
Occupational group
130.6 134.3 135.6 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.4 3.9 3.8
131.0 | 134.8 | 136.1 8 1.0 1.0 3.1 3.8 3.9
Professional specialty and technical .. 131.4 135.0 135.8 5 7 6 27 3.3 3.3
Executive, administrative, and managerial ...j 131.0 135.6 187.4 1.2 1.6 1.3 3.8 4.8 49
Administrative support, including clerical ......] 130.4 | 133.7 | 135.0 1.0 8 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.5
Blue collar neensesecen 126.2 129.3 130.4 & 7 a) 28 3.1 3.3
Service aaessononsceesnsensen 128.6 | 132.6 | 133.7 8 8 8 3.5 3.9 4.0
State and local government 131.4 | 134.4 | 135.1 4 6 5 28 27 28
industry
SOMVICES -..ceesesesssceseeessee 132.1 | 135.3 | 135.7 2 A 3 27 26 27
Excluding schools45 131.2 | 134.4 | 135.4 5 8 7 23 3.0 3.2
Health services ..... oe 132.1 135.3 136.3 5 1.0 7 22 3.0 3.2
Hospitals -| 131.9 135.2 136.3 5 11 8 22 3.0 3.3
Educational services aseseesssereeseeere| 132.1 135.3 135.7 A 4 3 28 25 27
Schools ... wef 182.2 | 135.5 | 135.8 0 4 2 27 25 27
Elementary and secondary 132.4 135.7 136.0 0 3 2 24 25 27
Colleges and universities 131.5 | 134.6 | 135.2 2 7 A 3.7 26 28
Public administration’ ... 128.9 131.4 132.7 9 & 1.0 3.2 29 29
Occupational group
White collar ..... ousseseons 131.4 | 134.5 | 135.0 2 6 A 27 26 27
Professional specialty and technical .. 131.9 | 135.1 135.5, 2 5 3 28 26 27
Executive, administrative, and managerial 131.3 | 134.1 135.1 8 B&B 7 28 3.0 29
Administrative support, including clerical .. 129.2 132.3 133.0 2 7 5 27 26 29
Blue collar 129.6 | 132.3 | 133.1 6 8 & 24 27 27
Service .. 132.4 | 135.2 | 136.5 WW 7 1.0 3.4 3.2 31
7 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. activities of State and local governments, SIC’s 91 through 96.
2 Includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; wholesale 4 Fommerty called hospitals and other services.
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; service industries; and 5 This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news

public administration. release.
Includes executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory


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
Industry and occupational group Mar. Dee. Mar. 3 months ended— 12 months ended-
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Private industry workers .... 131.7 135.1 136.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 3.0 3.4 3.5
Excluding sales occupations 131.9 135.2 136.4 8B 8 a) 2.8 3.4 3.4
Industry

Goods producing? 131.4 | 134.1 | 135.1 4 4 7 2.5 2.4 28
Excluding sales .. 131.1 133.6 | 134.5 5 A 7 2.4 2.4 2.6
White collar .... 133.5 136.2 137.7 5 4 14 27 25 3.1
Excluding sales .. 132.6 135.0 136.3 4 4 1.0 2.5 22 2.8
Blue collar 130.2 132.8 133.5 5 3 5 2.4 25 25
Construction3 127.2 | 129.7 | 130.6 6 x) 7 23 26 27
Manufacturing 182.6 | 135.3 | 136.4 A 5 8 26 24 29
White collar 133.9 | 136.7 | 138.2 2 7 at 26 23 3.2
Excluding sales 132.8 | 135.3 | 136.5 2 6 a) 25 21 28
Blue collat 131.7 | 134.3 | 135.0 5 A 5 26 24 25
Durables 133.0 | 135.7 | 136.5 3 5 6 25 23 26
Aircraft manufacturing (SIC 3721) .. 137.3 | 136.9 | 137.2 A “7 2 3 4 “A
White collar 133.5 134.3 134.7 “1 72 3 8 4 9
Blue collar .. 142.3 | 139.6 139.6 0 “1.6 0 7 “1.9 1.9
Nondurables .. 131.7 | 134.5 | 135.9 5 6 1.0 27 27 3.2
Service producing+ 131.6 | 135.3 | 136.7 Ww 41 1.0 31 3.9 3.9
Excluding sales .. 132.2 136.1 137.4 1.0 1.2 1.0 3.0 4.0 3.9
White collar .... 132.7 136.6 138.0 1.2 1.3 1.0 3.3 4.2 4.0
Excluding sales .. 134.0 | 138.1 139.5, V1 1.3 1.0 31 41 41
Blue collar 128.2 130.9 132.1 7 7 a 24 28 3.0
Service 129.5 133.9 135.0 7 a 8 3.4 41 4.2
Transportation and public utilities 131.3 | 134.2 | 135.8 7 1.0 1.2 27 29 3.4
Transportation .. 130.6 133.4 134.0 Ww 1.0 A 29 3.3 26
Public utilities 132.0 | 135.1 137.9 2 1.0 21 24 26 45
Communications 130.2 | 134.0 | 136.6 «7 17 1.9 17 22 49
Electric, gas, and sanitary services 134.2 | 136.4 | 139.6 1.4 3 2.3 3.2 3.0 4.0
Wholesale and retail trade 130.1 132.9 | 134.7 1.2 A 14 3.7 3.3 3.5
Excluding sales 130.4 | 134.0 | 135.5 11 & a1 3.6 3.9 3.9
Wholesale tradeS 132.9 135.1 137.7 1.5 4 1.9 4.2 3.2 3.6
Excluding sales3 132.6 135.4 137.0 1.3 7 1.2 44 3.4 3.3
Retail trade .... 128.5 | 131.7 | 133.1 9 5 1d 3.2 3.4 3.6
General merchandise stores? . 126.4 | 130.0 | 131.2 aA 14 3 3.3 29 38
Food stores’ .. 128.2 129.4 131.3 -2 3 1.5 3.7 8 24
Finance, insurance, and real estate? 128.6 | 134.5 | 136.7 21 3.4 1.6 3.3 6.7 6.3
Excluding sales3 131.5 | 137.6 | 140.2 1.8 341 19 3.1 65 6.6

Banking, savings ai
credit agencies? 130.6 | 140.6 | 143.3 2.0 5.6 1.9 29 9.8 9.7
Insurance? ..... 131.9 | 134.8 | 137.4 18 1.3 1.9 3.4 4.0 42
Excluding sales* 136.0 138.6 140.0 1.9 9 1.0 3.0 3.8 29
Services 134.6 | 138.5 | 139.3 9 1 6 3.0 3.8 3.5
Business services? 133.3 | 138.6 | 139.5 wt 17 6 3.4 5.2 47
Health services .. 135.5 | 138.1 | 138.2 7 8 a 22 27 2.0
Hospitals 134.0 | 136.5 | 136.7 2 8 a 14 24 2.0
Nursing h - - - 7 8 8 28 26 27
Educational servi 138.5 | 1426 | 143.4 A 7 6 3.4 3.3 3.5
Colleges and universities 139.5 | 143.7 | 144.3 3 8 4 2.6 3.3 3.4

‘See footnotes at end of table.


Employment Cost Index

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

Wages & salaries Benefits
| _ —

: l J
| 12-month percent change

14
(12
10

oN ROO

FPPT FORT PPT PPT PPT FPR PPS YET FA PTT PO PPT FOP FO PE OT

Chart B. Changes in benefits, seasonally
adjusted and not seasonally adjusted,
private industry

Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted |

3-month percent change

6
5
4
3
2

Luuliblsdibslettrlibbeletbebireblcl

80 . 82 . 84. 86 . 88 . 90.92. 94. 96. 98

80 . 82. 84. 86 . 88.90.92. 94. 96 -. *98

Chart C. Changes in benefits by
ivate industry

| White-collar Blue-collar |

12-month percent change
4b
wt |S

107

\

Juwluslilituletalslaelllostslllenelel

tv)
80 . 82. 84. 86 . 88.90.92. 94. 96. 98

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Compensation Levels and Trends

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

Goods-producing Service-producing

| 12-month percent change
4
2p

10

lbitububububtibubabulsbabisblslitil
80 . 82. 84. 86. 88.90.92. 94. 96. 98

April 1998 ocltinfo@bls.gov 202.606.6199


15

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

(Not seasonally adjusted data)
Indexes (June 1989=100) Percent changes for
Industry, occupational group, and 3 months ended— 12 months ended-
bargaining status Mar. Dec. Mar,

1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998

Civilian workers ... 138.9 | 141.1 142.0 05 06 0.6 2.0 21 22
State and local government 137.4 | 138.6 139.7 A 3 8&8 2.0 1.3 1.7
Private industry .... 139.4 | 141.8 | 142.6 & 7 6 2.0 23 23

Industry
Goods producing! 139.9 | 141.5 | 141.5 aA 0 0 1.6 1.3 11
Service producing? .. 138.5 | 141.4 | 142.7 8 Ww Q 2.2 29 3.0
139.9 | 141.7 | 141.7 A oO 17 1.4
148.6 | 143.0 | 141.7 -2.0 -9 3.6 5.7
146.8 | 144.8 | 142.9 -2.7 13 3.4 -4.0

Blue collar 150.9 | 139.6 | 139.0 9 4 3.7 -8.3
Nonmanufacturing 138.9 | 141.5 | 142.7 7 8 21 26
Occupational group
White collar 140.8 | 143.4 | 144.7 8 1.0 9 23 2.6 28
Blue collar .. 187.2 | 139.0 | 139.1 a A A 1.5 15 1.4
Service? .. 138.3 | 142.0 | 143.3 7 4 9 1.9 3.3 3.6
Bargaining status
Union .. 140.2 | 142.0 | 142.1 74 -A A 8 9 1.4
Nonunion 138.9 | 141.5 | 142.5 8 me) 7 23 27 2.6
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. industries.
2 includes transportation, communication, and public utilities; This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news

wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service release.


7

could be obtained by aggregating either the industry or the occupational components, and the results may differ depending
on which method is used. The aggregate seasonally adjusted ECI series are estimated by aggregating the component
seasonally adjusted industry series, so they are not necessarily a weighted average of the component occupation series.
The seasonal adjustment factors are recalculated once a year. The March release contains data reflecting the newly
updated seasonal adjustment factors. The historical data for the last five years are then revised based on the newly
estimated factors. The new factors are published in the summer issue of Compensation and Working Conditions.
Beginning in 1999, the new factors will be made available upon request shortly before the data for the first quarter are
published.

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

The costs per hour worked of compensation components, based on March 1997 data from the ECI, are published
in a separate news release titled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation - March 1997." A description of the cost
levels is provided in the article "Analyzing employers’ costs for wages, salaries, and benefits" in the October 1987 issue of
the Monthly Labor Review. The cost levels, which are published annually, with March as the reference month, 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 will usually differ from those in the ECL.

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.
All 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. Currently, in the higher level aggregate series the standard errors for 3-month changes are
generally 0.1 percent or less; for 12-month changes, standard errors are generally 0.25 percent or less. Currently, in the
lower level series, standard errors are generally 0.3 percent or less for 3-month changes and 0.6 percent or less for 12-
month changes.

When comparing data by bargaining status, it is important to note that differences may be due to factors other
than bargaining status, such as occupational and industry mix. For example, union occupations tend to be concentrated in
blue-collar occupations within manufacturing industries. Thus, differences between blue-collar and white-collar pay or
differences in manufacturing versus nonmanufacturing industries could explain such differences.

More detailed information on the ECT is available in several sources. These include an annual bulletin,
Employment Cost Indexes and Levels, 1975-95, (Bulletin 2466); a chapter in the BLS Handbook of Methods (Bulletin
2490), "National Compensation Measures," and several articles published in the Monthly Labor Review and
Compensation and Working Conditions. The annual 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 202/606-6199 or sending email to ocltinfo@bls.gov. Current and historical data are available at the
web site at: http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:
202/606-7828, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone: 202/606-5897, TDD Message Referral Phone
Number: 1-800/326-2577.



3
For the year ended March 1998, the 2.8 percent rise in compensation costs in goods-producing industries
was lower than the 3.9 percent increase in the service-producing industries. For the year ended March 1997,
compensation costs rose 2.5 percent in goods-producing industries and 3.1 percent in service-producing
industries. Among industry divisions, over-the-year increases ranged from 2.7 percent in construction to 6.3
percent in finance, insurance, and real estate. (See table 3.)

The 3.7 percent over-the-year increase in compensation costs for nonunion workers in private industry
outpaced the 2.3 percent increase for union workers. The pattern was similar for service-producing industries
where union compensation increased 2.6 percent and nonunion compensation increased 4.0 percent. For goods-
producing industries, the increase for union workers was 2.1 percent, and the increase for nonunion workers
was 3.0 percent. Compensation in blue-collar occupations increased 2.2 percent for union workers and 3.0
percent for nonunion workers. (See table 4.)

State and local government

In state and local governments, the March 1998 over-the-year increase in wages and salaries was less
than in private industry. The March 1998 over-the-year increase was 2.8 percent, the same as reported for
March 1997. Benefit costs for March 1998 increased 1.7 percent. In March 1997, the increase was 2.0 percent.

NOTES
The ECI for June 1998 is scheduled to be released Thursday, July 30, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

This release includes annual revisions in seasonally adjusted Employment Cost Index data for
compensation costs, wages and salaries, and benefit costs. Seasonally adjusted data for 1993-1997 were revised
to reflect updated seasonal factors. The seasonal factors for 1998 will be published in the Summer 1998 issue
of the BLS periodical, Compensation and Working Conditions. Both the revised data and the seasonal factors
are available upon request by calling (202) 606-6199 or sending e-mail to ocltinfo@bls.gov Beginning in
1999, revised seasonal factors will be available shortly before the March news release.

The Bureau is evaluating published ECI series to assure that they meet statistical standards for
reliability. Preliminary research has targeted 37 series for elimination from the news release. These series are
marked with a footnote in the accompanying tables. Series that fail reliability standards will be removed from
the news release beginning in September 1998 and will be available only upon request.

ECI data, as well as other data produced by BLS, are now available on the World Wide Web. The ECI
home page address is: http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm The BLS home page address is: http://stats.bls.gov
To access data using Anonymous FTP, use the Internet address: ftp://ftp.bls.gov

For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to: labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov For
ECI data requests, send e-mail to: ocltinfo@bls.gov

News releases and other information are available from the BLS fax-on-demand service. To request a
document fax, call 202-606-6325. To request a catalog of available documents, select option 2 at the initial
voice prompt. To request data found in this news release, enter the following codes:

Text 4110
Tables 1-4 4115
Tables 5-7 4120
Table 8 4125

Explanatory notes 4190



2

September 1997-December 1997 period. Benefit costs increased 0.4 percent in the December 1997-March 1998
period, down from 0.8 percent in the September-December 1997 quarter.

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 0.7 percent during the December 1997-
March 1998 period. Over the past seven years, compensation increases have ranged from 0.6 to 1.0 percent in
private industry. Wages and salaries rose 0.8 percent in March; in December, the increase was 1.1 percent.
Benefit costs increased 0.3 percent in the March quarter, down from 0.9 percent in December. (See tables A
and 1.) :

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 0.8 percent during the December
1997-March 1998 period, following gains of 0.5 to 0.7 percent in the previous two and one-half years. Wages
and salaries increased 0.7 percent in March; in the September-December quarter, the increase was 0.8 percent.
Benefits increased 0.8 percent in the March quarter, up from 0.3 percent in the previous quarter. (See table 1.)

Over-the-year changes, not seasonally adjusted

Compensation costs for civilian workers (not seasonally adjusted) were up 3.3 percent for the year ended
March 1998. This compares with increases of 2.9 percent in March 1997 and 2.8 percent in March 1996.
Compensation costs in private industry rose 3.5 percent in March 1998, up from 3.0 percent in March 1997 and
2.7 percent in March 1996. In contrast, compensation costs for state and local governments increased 2.5
percent for the year ended in March 1998. The gain for the year ended in March 1997 was also 2.5 percent, and
in March 1996 the increase was 2.8 percent. (See tables B, 2, and 3.)

Private industry

In private industry, wages and salaries rose 4.0 percent for the year ended March 1998. Wages and
salaries increased 3.4 percent in March 1997. (See tables B and 6.) Benefit costs for private industry workers
increased 2.3 percent for the year ended in March 1998, compared with 2.0 percent in March 1997. (See chart
A and tables B and 8.) Increases in costs for paid vacations, health insurance, nonproduction bonuses, and
Social Security were partially offset by decreases in payments for state unemployment insurance and workers'
compensation.

In private industry, over-the-year compensation cost increases were 3.8 percent for white-collar
occupations, 2.7 percent for blue-collar occupations, and 4.2 percent for service occupations. Among the
occupational groups, increases ranged from 2.5 percent for precision production, craft, and repair occupations
and for transportation and material moving occupations to 4.8 percent for executive, administrative, and
managerial occupations. (See table 3.)

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

Compensation component 93 94 95 96 97 98
Civilian workers
Compensation costs 3.5 3.2 2.9 2.8 2.9 3.3
Wages and salaries . 27 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.7
Benefit costs 5.4 Al 2.8 1.8 2.0 2.2
Private industry
Compensation costs 3.5 3.3 2.9 27 3.0 3.5
Wages and salaries 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.2 3.4 4.0
Benefit costs 5.6 44 2.9 1.6 2.0 23
State and local government
Compensation costs 3.6 2.8 3.1 28 2.5 2.5
Wages and salaries 3.0 27 3.2 2.8 28 2.8

Benefit costs 48 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.0 17



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 Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 Mar. Dec. Mar. Mar. Dec. Mar.
1997 1997 1998 1997 1997 1998
Industry—Continued
Nonmanufacturing industries 128.2 132.1 133.4 11 11 1.0 3.5 4.2 41
White Collar .......secss0e 129.9 134.1 135.5, 12 1.3 1.0 3.6 45 43
Excluding sales .. 131.2 135.5 136.9 1.2 1.3 1.0 3.4 46 43
Blue collar 124.1 127.1 128.2 8 & 9 26 3.2 3.3
SOVICE ....escronseee wee 126.4 130.9 132.0 7 a 8 3.6 43 44
Occupational group
White collar ... 130.2 134.2 135.7 1.2 141 11 3.5 43 42
Excluding sales 130.8 134.8 136.3 11 1.0 11 3.2 42 42
Professional specialty ical .. 131.0 134.8 135.9 8&8 8 8 25 3.8 37
Executive, administrative, and managerial 131.0 | 135.8 | 137.8 1.3 1.6 15 41 5.0 52
Sales? w.ecsccssssssesssseee 127.8 131.4 133.1 15 1.2 1.3 48 44 41
Administrative support, including
clerical ... 130.6 | 133.9 | 135.3 1 8 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.6
Blue collar ........... eonaee | 126.0 129.1 130.2 7 6 a) 29 3.2 3.3
Precision production, craft, and repair 125.8 | 128.7 | 129.8 6 4 a 28 29 3.2
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors ..... 127.2 | 130.6 | 131.6 6 8 8 3.4 3.3 35
Transportation and material moving .. 122.3 125.1 125.9 1.0 8 6 1.9 3.3 29
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helper
laborers ..... 128.4 131.8 133.2 1.0 1.2 Ww 3.4 3.7 37
SOPVICE ...sssssssorsronsesecrsnecensnnscsssenses 126.6 131.1 132.1 7 B) 8 3.6 43 43
Production and nonsupervisory
occupations? .. 131.2 | 132.3 9 8 8B 3.2 37 3.6
1 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. 4 ‘This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the

2 This series may be discontinued with the September 1998 news Hourly Eamings index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
release.
Includes transportation, communication, and public ut 3; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries. NOTE: Dashes indicate data not available.



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 overtime, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses such as lump-sum payments provided in lieu of
wage increases); insurance benefits (life, health, sickness and accident, and long-term disability); retirement and savings
benefits (defined benefit and defined contribution); 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 economy and the public sector—
excluding farms, households, and the Federal government. The private industry series and the State and local government
series provide data for the two sectors separately.

Data for this quarter were collected from a probability sample of approximately 19,400 occupations within about
4,600 sample establishments in private industry and approximately 4,300 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 sample establishments are classified in industry categories based on the 1987 Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC), as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Within an establishment, specific job categories are selected to represent broader occupational definitions. From
June 1986 through December 1994, the jobs were classified according to definitions used in the 1980 Census. Prior to
June 1986, they were classified according to the 1970 Census. Differences between the two classification systems are
slight, as indicated in the article “Introducing new weights for the Employment Cost Index," in the June 1985 issue of the
Monthly Labor Review. Beginning with March 1995, the jobs are classified according to the 1990 Census, which differs
little from the 1980 Census.

Fixed employment weights are used each quarter to calculate the most aggregate indexes—civilian, private, and
State and local governments. These fixed weights are also used to derive all of the industry and occupation series indexes.
Beginning in March 1995, 1990 employment counts, primarily from the Bureau's Occupational Employment Statistics
survey, were used. A description of the reweighting is included in an article "Introducing 1990 Weights for the
Employment Cost Index," published in the June 1995 issue of Compensation and Working Conditions, and available upon
request. From June 1986 through December 1994, employment counts from the 1980 Census were used as weights. Prior
to June 1986, employment counts from the 1970 Census were used.

For the series based on bargaining status, region, or area size, employment data are not available from the Census.
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 spot. ECI series are seasonally adjusted using either direct or composite seasonally
adjusted estimates. Industry and occupational series, such as construction and service occupations, are adjusted directly.
More aggregate series, such as civilian or private industry workers, use composite estimates. The composite estimates