Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I calculate the percent change between two time periods?
2. Once I have identified the series I want to use, how should I reference it to make sure it will not be confused with another series?
3. Where can I get wage determinations data?
4. Where can I obtain information on minimum wage and overtime laws and regulations?
5. How will ECI be affected when it merges with the National Compensation Survey?
6. Where can I find Employment Cost Index (wages & salaries and benefits) historical data?
7. How often are the ECI and ECEC published?
8. Does BLS interpret or forecast data on ECI and ECEC?
9. Is there a survey which shows compensation and benefits as a part of compensation?
10. Do you have breakdowns of the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by state?
11. Does the Employment Cost Index include stock options?

1. How do I calculate the percent change between two time periods?

The formula is: [(x/y - 1) times 100] where x = ending quarter's index value and y = beginning quarter's index value. For an example, see calculation.

2. Once I have identified the series I want to use, how should I reference it to make sure it will not be confused with another series?

To insure the uniqueness of a series, you must include the following: the Employment Cost Index, Component, Ownership, Group, Seasonality, Base as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. To view the options available for the italicized words, see series options.

3. Where can I get wage determinations data?

Cross-industry wage determinations under the Service Contract Act and construction industry wage determinations under the Davis-Bacon Act are available from: Employment Standards Administration (ESA), U.S. Department of Labor
Services Determinations Phone: 202-693-0073
Construction Determinations Phone: 202-693-0086

4. Where can I obtain information on minimum wage and overtime laws and regulations?

General wage and hour questions may be addressed to: Employment Standards Administration (ESA), U.S. Department of Labor
Phone: 202-693-0051

5. How will ECI be affected when it merges with the National Compensation Survey?

The National Compensation Survey is a BLS establishment survey of employee salaries, wages, and benefits. The NCS will replace 3 existing BLS surveys: Employment Cost Index (ECI), Occupational Compensation Survey Program (OCSP), and Employee Benefits Survey (EBS). The chief reasons for developing the NCS are: 1) Expand existing compensation programs by covering more occupations, by publishing more local data, and by representing all workers; 2) Eliminate duplicate data collection and processing requirements; 3) Reduce respondent burden; 4) Develop more efficient and streamlined collection and processing techniques; 5) Improve the quality of published data; 6) Produce a variety of local and national data; and 7) Address budget constraints. Beginning in 1998, both wage and benefit data were collected using the NCS sample. Establishments in the current ECI/EBS sample will remain in that sample until 1999. At that time, there was a single sample of establishments feeding all compensation publications. Establishments will no longer be asked to participate in separate surveys.

6. Where can I find Employment Cost Index (wages & salaries and benefits) historical data?

Go to Employment Cost Trends. Then, you will have two options: 1. Go to "Data" and click on "Historical listings (TXT or PDF)" -- the data for Wages and Salaries are in table 1b for seasonally adjusted and in tables 5a, 5b, 6, and 7 for not seasonally adjusted by industry characteristic. 2. Click on "Most Requested Series" -- check the 2nd and 3rd boxes in the list, and then go to "years to report for," make a selection and then hit "retrieve data"

7. How often are the ECI and ECEC published?

The ECI and ECEC are published on a quarterly basis, with data collected for the pay period including the 12th day of the survey months of March, June, September, and December. The ECI is published in the month following the reference period. The ECEC is published approximately three months after the month of reference.

8. Does BLS interpret or forecast data on ECI and ECEC?

BLS does not interpret or forecast ECI and ECEC data. However, explanatory notes are provided with every news release and bulletin to make reading and understanding the data easier.

9. Is there a survey which shows compensation and benefits as a part of compensation?

The Employer Cost for Employee Compensation (ECEC) measures the average cost per hour worked that employers pay for wages and salaries, plus the cost for benefits. Total compensation consists of wages and salaries plus benefits. These data are available online at Employment Cost Trends. Click on links in the News Release section of the ECT homepage for these data.

10. Do you have breakdowns of the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by state?

We do not have ECEC data by State. We have one table in this series in which the data are shown by region, such as Midwest, Northeast and so on. It is table #7 and it is available online at Employment Cost Trends, in the News Release Section of the ECT homepage (click on links next to "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation").

11. Does the Employment Cost Index include stock options?

The ECI does not reflect stock options. We are now conducting tests in order to determine the prevalence of stock options across the economy and evaluating the feasibility of assessing their impact on employment cost figures.

Calculation (question #1)

A. Determine the index numbers for the beginning quarter and the ending quarter, B. Divide the ending quarter by the beginning quarter. C. Subtract 1 from the quotient derived in step B. D. Multiply the value from step C by 100. E. Round the value from step D to 1 decimal place.

Example: calculate the percent change in wages and salaries for private industry workers from June 1997 to June 1999 A. June 1997 = 129.7 June 1999 = 139.7 B. 139.7 / 129.7 = 1.0771 C. 1.0771 - 1 = 0.0771 D. 0.0771 x 100 = 7.71

E. 7.7 %

Series Options (question #2)

First, determine the following parts of each series:

Component: Compensation, Wages and salaries, or Benefits Ownership: Civilian, State and local government, or Private industry Group: See Group List (this identifies the industry, occupation, region, bargaining status, or metropolitan area status)
Seasonality: Seasonally adjusted, or not seasonally adjusted
Base: Currently, this is June 1989 = 100.

Second, cite the data as "the Employment Cost Index (ECI), Component, Ownership, Group, Seasonality, Base as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Do not cite table numbers or specific publications as official sources because these may change over time. However, you may want to note that the data appeared in table X in a particular issue of a particular publication and its current value. You may also want to include the OCLT information phone number. For example:

"Employment Cost Index (ECI), Wages and salaries, Private industry, Manufacturing - Durable goods, Not seasonally adjusted, (June 1989 = 100), as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics."

"These data can be obtained by calling the BLS Office of Compensation Levels and Trends at (202)691-6199. The March 1999 value for this series was 137.9 as listed in Table 6 (page 95), of the 'Employment Cost Index, Historical Listing (June 1989 = 100 base)', dated April 29, 1999."

Last Modified Date: November 8, 2002