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Employment Cost Index Commentaries

U.S. Employment Cost Index,

DEC 10, 2025

Q3 2025 Commentary

Growth in compensation costs continues downward trend. Health insurance costs in sharp contrast. For full commentary, email:

ICS-ILR@cornell.edu

U.S. EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX, Q2 2025 COMMENTARY

Q2 2025 Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Release
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U.S. EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX, Q2 2025 COMMENTARY

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q1 2025 Commentary

Q1 2025 Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Release
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q1 2025 Commentary

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q4 2024 Commentary

Q4 2025 Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Release
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q4 2024 Commentary

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q3 2024 Commentary

Compensation costs continue to rise faster than inflation: good news for workers, especially union workers
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q3 2024 Commentary

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q2 2024 Commentary

Q2 2024 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Release
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q2 2024 Commentary

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q1 2024 Commentary

ICS Commentary on U.S. ECI report for the first quarter of 2024
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q1 2024 Commentary

U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q4 2023 Commentary

ICS Commentary on U.S. ECI report for the fourth quarter of 2023
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U.S. Employment Cost Index, Q4 2023 Commentary

2023 Third Quarter Summary

ICS' expert commentary on the latest Employment Cost Index release
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2023 Third Quarter Summary

2021 Fourth Quarter

Civilian workers’ compensation costs 12-month growth rate of 4.0 percent growth is the highest in 20 years.
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2021 Fourth Quarter

2021 Third Quarter

Although varying by occupation and sectors, compensation witnesses record-high growth increase in 17 years.
ECI commentary 2021 Q3 cover image
2021 Third Quarter

2021 Second Quarter

Propelled by rising private sector compensation, ECI growth rate recovers to pre-pandemic level.
Cover image of 2021 Q2 commentary.
2021 Second Quarter

2021 First Quarter

As ECI growth rate approaches pre-Covid pace, low-wage workers are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Cover image for 2021 Q1 commentary.
2021 First Quarter

Fourth Quarter of 2020

Wage and salary growth in the public sector decelerates. Meanwhile, the private sector growth gap widens among occupations.
Cover image for the 2020 Q4 ECI commentary.
Fourth Quarter of 2020

2020 First Quarter

While compensation growth stabilizes, the current ECI data has yet to document the full-fledged effect of Covid-19.
Cover image for the 2020 Q1 ECI commentary.
2020 First Quarter

2019 Third Quarter

ECI variation narrows across the country. As private sector growth drives the ECI trend, the accelerating growth in service jobs ends.
Cover image for the 2019 Q3 ECI commentary
2019 Third Quarter

2019 Second Quarter

With unemployment rate steady, year-on-year compensation growth softens.
Cover image for the 2019 Q2 ECI commentary
2019 Second Quarter

2013 Third Quarter

Despite its higher unemployment rate, the West is experiencing more rapidly rising wage and salary costs.  
2013 Third Quarter

2013 Second Quarter

Employment Cost Index aligns with July’s BLS Employment Situation report, both signal steady recovery in the U.S. labor market, with emphasis on lower-paying jobs.
2013 Second Quarter

2012 Third Quarter

As total compensation increases rebound slightly, public sector employers continue to face upward trend in employee health benefit inflation.
2012 Third Quarter

2012 Second Quarter

Total compensation increases continue slowing trend, as 12-month percent change in private sector benefit costs drops precipitously.
2012 Second Quarter

2012 First Quarter

Deceleration in private sector health benefit cost index brings growth rate back to 1998 level. Meanwhile, private sector employment cost index is trending strongest in the South.
2012 First Quarter

2011 Fourth Quarter

While compensation cost increases remains steady, the public sector witnesses the lowest compensation increase since June of 1982.
2011 Fourth Quarter

2011 Third Quarter

Total U.S. civilian 12-month employment cost increases fell back for the first time since Q4 2009.
2011 Third Quarter

2011 Second Quarter

For the first time in over a decade, the cost of private sector employment benefits overall increased faster than those for health care.
2011 Second Quarter

2011 First Quarter

Deceleration in health benefits costs surprises private sector employers.
2011 First Quarter

2010 Fourth Quarter

ECI consistent with an economy accelerating away from the recession’s labor market trough, but “very, very slowly.”
2010 Fourth Quarter

2010 Third Quarter

Latest ECI figures reveal labor market “anemic”; private-sector employees faring better
2010 Third Quarter

2010 Second Quarter

Benefits explain why U.S. employers’ costs rise, ut employees might feel worse off.
2010 Second Quarter

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