WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2026 — Compensation costs for civilian workers "increased 3.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, for the 12-month period ending in September 2026," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday in its quarterly Employment Cost Index.
Key numbers from the release:
- Three months to September: compensation up 0.8%, wages and salaries up 0.7%, benefits up 0.9% (seasonally adjusted).
- Private industry, past year: wages and salaries up 3.1%, benefits up 3.9%. "Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) wages and salaries decreased 0.6 percent over the year."
- Union vs. nonunion: private-sector compensation rose 4.3% for union workers and 3.3% for nonunion workers.
- Health benefits: private-industry health benefit costs were up 6.4% over the year.
- State and local government: compensation up 3.5% over the year; inflation-adjusted wages down 0.5%.
The next Employment Cost Index comes out Jan. 29, 2027, the bureau says.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Cost Index news release USDL-26-1620, Oct. 30, 2026.
← More Money stories · All Launchpad stories · Spotted an error? Request a correction.