More companies in white-collar industries are increasing their spending on benefits, often in lieu of higher wages. Benefit expenses are outpacing wage gains as companies strive to reward a younger workforce with short-term flexibility options without increasing long-term labor costs. Benefits often now make up 31.6% of an employee’s total compensation package, with bonuses and other awards at their highest levels in three decades. Meanwhile, wages have remained stagnant at a 2% growth rate over the last five years, even with an improved unemployment rate.
See "Companies have found something to give their workers instead of raises", Ylan Q. Mui, July 29, 2015