Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States rose by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2026, the same as in the previous period, slightly above forecasts of a 0.8% rise. Wages and salaries increased 0.9% (vs 0.8% in Q1) and benefits rose at a faster pace of 1% (vs 1.2%). Compensation costs for private industry workers grew 0.9%, the same as in Q1, and for state and local government workers grew 1%, also the same as in Q1. On an annual basis, employment cost growth remained unchanged from the last period at 3.4%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment Cost Index in the United States remained unchanged at 0.90 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from 0.90 percent in the first quarter of 2026. Employment Cost Index in the United States averaged 0.85 percent from 1982 until 2026, 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 September of 2026.

Employment Cost Index in the United States remained unchanged at 0.90 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from 0.90 percent in the first quarter of 2026. Employment Cost Index in the United States is expected to be 0.60 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 and 0.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-30 12:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q1 0.9% 0.7% 0.8% 0.5%
2026-07-31 12:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q2 0.9% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8%
2026-10-30 01:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q3 0.9% 0.6%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Cost - Benefits 1.00 1.20 percent Jun 2026
Employment Cost - Wages 0.90 0.80 percent Jun 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Aug 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.40 34.30 Hours Aug 2026
Employed Persons 162746.00 162177.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.90 0.90 percent Jun 2026
Employment Rate 59.10 58.90 percent Aug 2026
Full Time Employment 134288.00 133553.00 Thousand Aug 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7271.00 7182.00 Thousand Jul 2026
Participation Rate 61.60 61.40 percent Aug 2026
Labour Costs 123.98 123.62 points Jun 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 162.00 21.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Productivity 120.02 119.59 points Jun 2026
Unemployed Persons 7031.00 6916.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.10 4.10 percent Aug 2026
Wages 32.53 32.42 USD/Hour Aug 2026


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
0.90 0.90 2.00 0.20 1982 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
US Employment Costs Slightly Above Forecasts
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States rose by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2026, the same as in the previous period, slightly above forecasts of a 0.8% rise. Wages and salaries increased 0.9% (vs 0.8% in Q1) and benefits rose at a faster pace of 1% (vs 1.2%). Compensation costs for private industry workers grew 0.9%, the same as in Q1, and for state and local government workers grew 1%, also the same as in Q1. On an annual basis, employment cost growth remained unchanged from the last period at 3.4%.
2026-07-31
US Employment Costs Slightly Above Forecasts
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States rose by 0.9% in the first quarter of 2026, after a 0.7% increase in the previous period, slightly above forecasts of a 0.8% rise. Wages and salaries increased 0.8% (vs 0.7% in Q4 2025) and benefits rose at a faster pace of 1.2% (vs 0.8%), the highest level in five months. Compensation costs for private industry workers grew 0.9%, from 0.7% in Q4 2025, and for state and local government workers grew 1%, from 0.8% in the previous quarter. On an annual basis, employment cost growth remained unchanged from the last period at 3.4%.
2026-04-30
US Employment Costs Rise Less than Expected
Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States went up by 0.7% in Q4 2025, the least since Q2 2021, after a 0.8% increase in the prior period, amid softer demand for labor. Figures came in slightly below market forecasts of a 0.8% rise. Wages and salaries increased 0.7% and benefit costs rose 0.7% from the September quarter of 2025. Compensation costs for private industry workers were up 0.7% (vs 0.8% in Q3), and those for state and local government workers advanced by 0.8% (vs 0.8%). Year-on-year, employment costs rose by 3.4%, after a 3.5% growth in Q3.
2026-02-10