FX.co ★ US Employment Costs Rise Less than Expected

Compensation costs for civilian workers in the United States increased by 0.7% in Q4 2025, the smallest gain since Q2 2021, following a 0.8% rise in the previous quarter. The result came in just below market expectations of a 0.8% increase. Wages and salaries rose 0.7%, and benefit costs also climbed 0.7% compared with the September quarter of 2025. Compensation costs for private industry workers were up 0.7% (down from 0.8% in Q3), while those for state and local government workers advanced 0.8% (unchanged from 0.8% in Q3). On a year-over-year basis, overall employment costs grew 3.4%, easing slightly from a 3.5% increase in Q3.