Charting employment costs in U.S. private industry

Compensation costs for private sector workers rose 0.9 percent from March to June 2007 (seasonally adjusted), compared to 0.6 percent for the prior quarter, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Wages and salaries for private industry workers increased 0.8 percent, compared with 1.1 percent for the previous quarter. Benefit costs for private industry rose sharply by 1.1 percent, compared to a decline of 0.3 percent the previous quarter.

This data is from the BLS Compensation Cost Trends program. Compensation costs (also known as employment costs) include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Data is subject to revision. Learn more in "Employment Cost Index—June 2007," news release USDL 07-1151.