May 27, 2008 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Productivity growth in selected service-providing industries, 2006

In 2006, output per hour increased in 27 of the 40 detailed service-providing industries studied by BLS.

Annual percent change in output per hour for selected service-providing industries, 2005-06
[Chart data—TXT]

Three industries recorded double-digit productivity growth: video tape and disc rental, 22.4 percent; wireless telecommunications carriers, 14.1 percent; and truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing, 11.8 percent.

Productivity fell the most in amusement and theme parks, 11.1 percent, and in refrigerated warehousing and storage, 9.2 percent.

Between 1987 and 2006, labor productivity increased in 34 of the 40 detailed service-providing industries. Software publishers recorded the greatest productivity growth over the period, followed by wireless telecommunications carriers.

This information is from the BLS Productivity and Costs program. Labor productivity is defined as output per hour. Productivity data are subject to revision. Additional information is available from "Productivity and Costs by Industry: Selected Service-Providing and Mining Industries, 2006," news release USDL 08-0687.