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.

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.

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.