Wages and
salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.7 percent and benefit
costs (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) also increased 0.7 percent from
December 2018.
Civilian Workers
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in
March 2019 compared with a compensation costs increase of 2.7 percent in March 2018.
Wages and
salaries increased 2.9 percent for the 12- month period ending in March 2019 and increased 2.7
percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2018. Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the
12-month period ending in March 2019. In March 2018, the increase was also 2.6 percent.
Private Industry Workers
Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.8 percent over the year, the same
increase as in March 2018.
Wages and salaries increased 3.0 percent for the 12-month period ending
in March 2019 and increased 2.9 percent in March 2018. The cost of benefits rose 2.4 percent for the
12-month period ending in March 2019 and increased 2.5 percent in March 2018.
Employer costs for health benefits increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in March
2019.
Among occupational groups, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-month
period ending in March 2019 ranged from 2.3 percent for management, professional, and related
occupations to 3.4 percent for service occupations.
Among industry supersectors, compensation cost increases for private industry workers for the 12-
month period ending in March 2019 ranged from 2.2 percent for manufacturing to 4.8 percent for
information.
State and Local Government Workers
Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 3.0 percent for the 12-month
period ending in March 2019. In March 2018, the increase was 2.2 percent. Wages and salaries
increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2019, compared with 1.8 percent a year
ago. Benefit costs increased 3.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in March 2019. The prior
year increase was 3.0 percent.
See also:
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com has been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.