Compensation costs up 0.7% June 2017- Sept 2017 and up 2.5% over the year ending Sept 2017

 EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX – September 2017  Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period  ending in September 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make  up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.7 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30  percent of compensation) increased 0.8 percent. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)  Civilian Workers  Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in September  2017. In September 2016, compensation costs increased 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.5 percent  for the 12-month period ending in September 2017 and increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in  September 2016. Benefit costs increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017. In  September 2016, the increase was 2.3 percent. (See tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)  					Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Hurricanes Harvey and Irma had minimal impact on data collection in the September 2017 reference period.  For further information on how recent hurricanes impacted survey response, see  www.bls.gov/bls/hurricanes-harvey-irma-maria.htm.  Private Industry Workers  Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.5 percent over the year. In September 2016, the  increase was 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.6 percent for the current 12-month period. In  September 2016, the increase was 2.4 percent. The cost of benefits rose 2.4 percent for the 12-month period  ending in September 2017, higher than the 1.8 percent increase in September 2016. (See tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)  Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2017.  (For further information, see www.bls.gov/web/eci/echealth.pdf.)  Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period  ending in September 2017 ranged from 2.3 percent for management, professional, and related occupations to 3.2  percent for production, transportation, and material moving occupations. (See table 5.)  Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month period  ending in September 2017 ranged from 1.9 percent for education and health services to 3.4 percent for leisure  and hospitality. (See table 5.)