Wages for nonsupervisor workers rose 2.8% in May from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday. It was the best annual gain since July 2009, the month after the recession ended.

At that time employers were still shedding jobs. Now employers have been steadily adding workers for 92 straight months. The gain for nonsuperisors was stronger than the gain for all private-sector workers 2.7% in May from a year earlier.

That essentially means rank-and-file employees are now seeing larger percentage raises than their bosses. The gain for nonmanagers may indicate low unemployment is finally forcing businesses to bid up wages for all levels of employees, rather than to only reward managers for strong profits and rising stock values.