U.S. compensation costs up 0.9% in Q4, up 4.2% in 2023

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.9%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month
period ending in December 2023, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report posted Wednesday (Jan. 31).

Wages and salaries also rose 0.9% and benefit costs increased 0.7% from September 2023, the report noted. Inflation-adjusted wages and salaries increased 0.9% for the 12 months ending December 2023. Inflation-adjusted benefit costs in the private sector increased 0.2% over that same period. READ MORE