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. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment Cost Index in the United States decreased to 0.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 0.80 percent in the third 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 0.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 0.80 percent in the third 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
2025-12-10 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 0.7% 0.8% 0.8% 0.7%
2026-04-30 12:30 PM
Employment Cost Index QoQ
Q1 0.7% 0.4%

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

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.40 0.10 percent Jan 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.20 Hours Jan 2026
Employed Persons 164520.00 163992.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.70 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Employment Rate 59.80 59.70 percent Jan 2026
Full Time Employment 135797.00 135215.00 Thousand Jan 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6542.00 6928.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 62.50 62.40 percent Jan 2026
Labour Costs 121.64 122.23 points Sep 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 130.00 48.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Productivity 117.97 116.55 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 7362.00 7503.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Jan 2026
Wages 31.95 31.83 USD/Hour Jan 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
0.70 0.80 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 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
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