Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States increased 0.8% in Q3 2025, easing from a 0.9% rise in the previous period, slightly below market forecasts of 0.9%. Wages and salaries increased 0.8%, down from a 1% rise in Q1, while benefit costs increased 0.8%, up from 0.7% previously. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment Cost Index in the United States decreased to 0.80 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 0.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Employment Cost Index in the United States averaged 0.84 percent from 1982 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 2.00 percent in the third quarter of 1982 and a record low of 0.20 percent in the second quarter of 2015. This page provides - United States Employment Cost Index- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United States Employment Cost Index QoQ - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Employment Cost Index in the United States decreased to 0.80 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 0.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Employment Cost Index in the United States is expected to be 0.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Employment Cost Index QoQ is projected to trend around 0.50 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-07-31 12:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q2 0.9% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8%
2025-12-10 01:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q3 0.8% 0.9% 0.9% 0.8%
2026-02-10 01:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q4 0.8% 0.8% 0.7%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Cost - Benefits 0.80 0.70 percent Sep 2025
Employment Cost - Wages 0.80 1.00 percent Sep 2025

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Dec 2025
Employed Persons 163992.00 163760.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Cost Index 0.80 0.90 percent Sep 2025
Employment Rate 59.70 59.60 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment 135215.00 134325.00 Thousand Dec 2025
JOLTs Job Openings 6542.00 6928.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 62.40 62.50 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 121.64 122.23 points Sep 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 50.00 56.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Productivity 117.97 116.55 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 7503.00 7781.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.50 percent Dec 2025
Wages 31.76 31.73 USD/Hour Dec 2025


United States Employment Cost Index QoQ
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a measure of the change in the cost of labor, independent of the influence of employment shifts among occupations and industry categories. The total compensation series includes changes in wages and salaries and in employer costs for employee benefits. The ECI calculates indexes of total compensation, wages and salaries, and benefits separately for all civilian workers in the United States, for private industry workers, and for workers in state and local government.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.80 0.90 2.00 0.20 1982 - 2025 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
US Employment Costs Rise Less than Expected
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States increased 0.8% in Q3 2025, easing from a 0.9% rise in the previous period, slightly below market forecasts of 0.9%. Wages and salaries increased 0.8%, down from a 1% rise in Q1, while benefit costs increased 0.8%, up from 0.7% previously. Compensation costs for private industry workers rose by 0.8% (vs 1%), and those for state and local government workers advanced by 0.8% (vs 0.8%). Year-on-year, employment costs rose by 3.5%, after a 3.6% advance in Q2.
2025-12-10
US Employment Costs Slightly Above Forecasts
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States increased 0.9% in Q2 2025, the same as in the previous period, slightly above market forecasts of a 0.8% rise. Wages and salaries increased 1%, up from a 0.8% rise in Q1, while benefit costs increased 0.7%, down from 1.2% previously. Compensation costs for private industry workers rose by 1% (vs 0.8%), and those for state and local government workers advanced by 0.8% (vs 0.9%). Year-on-year, employment costs rose by 3.6%, the same pace as in the previous period.
2025-07-31
US Employment Costs Rise 0.9% QoQ as Expected
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States increased 0.9% in the first quarter of 2025, the same as in the previous period, as expected. Wages and salaries increased 0.8%, easing from a 1% rise in Q4, while benefit costs increased 1.2%, up from 0.8%. Compensation costs slowed in the private sector (0.8% vs 0.9%) and state and local government (0.9% vs 1.1%). On an annual basis, compensation costs rose by 3.6% in the first quarter, compared to a 3.8% advance in the preceding period.
2025-04-30