Worker Pay Rose 0.6% in Fourth Quarter

Washington, DC, January 29, 2016—Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.6%, for the three-month period ending in December 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Wages and salaries (which make up about 70% of compensation costs) increased 0.6%, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30% of compensation) increased 0.7%.

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.0% for the 12-month period ending in December 2015.

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.9% over the year, slowing from the December 2014 increase of 2.3%.

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.5% for the 12-month period ending in December 2015.