US Employment Costs Rise 0.8% in September Despite Shutdown Delays

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8% in September 2025, with wages and salaries increasing 0.8% and benefit costs rising 0.8%. Over the past 12 months, compensation costs have increased 3.5%, with wages and salaries up 3.5% and benefit costs also rising 3.5%. The report was delayed for more than five weeks due to the federal government shutdown, which halted data collection. For private industry workers, compensation costs rose 3.5% over the year, including a 3.6% rise in wages and a 3.5% increase in benefit costs, while inflation-adjusted wages increased 0.6%. State and local government workers recorded a 3.6% rise in compensation, with wages up 3.5% and benefit costs up 3.8%, and inflation-adjusted wages rising 0.5%.