Monday, June 25, 2018

Bonus Bonanza

The share of workers’ pay going to bonuses hit the highest level on record this year, reflecting a shift in how employers woo job candidates while still trying to keep a lid on base pay. That's according to a new report out from the Department of Labor.

Private-sector bonuses that aren’t directly tied to a worker’s output reached 2.8 percent of employer pay and benefit costs in the first quarter. That’s the biggest share since the Labor Department started tracking the figure in 2008.

Anecdotally, the trend of bonuses rather than permanent wage increases continues. The most popular measure of annual wage growth has bounced around 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent in recent years, which is below prerecession levels. With a 2.7 percent gain in May, though, it has finally shown signs of picking up as the labor market tightens.

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