FX.co ★ US Employment Costs Rise 0.9% QoQ as Expected

In the first quarter of 2025, compensation expenses for civilian workers in the United States saw a rise of 0.9%, maintaining a consistent pace with the previous period, in line with expectations. Wages and salaries witnessed a more modest increase of 0.8%, slowing from the 1% growth observed in the fourth quarter, while benefit expenses grew by 1.2%, up from the earlier 0.8% increment. In the private sector, compensation costs grew slightly slower at 0.8% compared to the prior 0.9%, and for state and local governments, the increase was 0.9%, a decrease from 1.1%. Annually, compensation costs saw a 3.6% upsurge in the first quarter, down from the 3.8% rise recorded in the prior period.