New England employers spent $34.48 an hour for benefits and employee pay in September, the highest of any region, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employers in the six-state region spent an average of $24.16 per hour in wages and $10.32 per hour in benefits.
The largest portion of hourly benefit costs, $2.80, was made up of worker’s compensation insurance, Social Security and other legally required benefits.
The second-largest portion, $2.77, was made up of insurance, followed by paid leave at $2.51.