Breaking down employee costs

Breaking down employee costs

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks all kinds of workforce data. Last month, the BLS released its September data on employee compensation costs. Not surprisingly, private industry spends a larger share of its costs on wages, while state and local government spends more on benefits, particularly health benefits and retirement. Here's a more detailed comparison:

Compensation componentPrivate industryState and local government

Wages and salaries70.3%64.7%


? Paid leave6.87.4

? Supplemental pay2.90.8

? Insurance8.212.1

- Health benefits7.711.7

? Retirement and savings3.68.9

- Defined benefit1.58.1

- Defined contribution2.10.8

? Legally required*8.26.1

* Includes Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and workers compensation

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