Labor productivity relates output to the labor hours used in the production of that output. Two BLS programs produce labor productivity and costs (LPC) measures for sectors of the U.S. economy.
The Major Sector Productivity program publishes quarterly and annual measures of output per hour and unit labor costs for the U.S. business, nonfarm business, and manufacturing sectors. These are the productivity statistics most often cited by the national media.
The Industry Productivity program publishes annual measures of output per hour and unit labor costs for U.S. industries.
February 07, 2013
Productivity decreased 2.0 percent in the nonfarm business sector in the fourth quarter of 2012; unit labor costs increased
4.5 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rates). In manufacturing, productivity increased 0.5 percent and unit labor costs
increased 0.4 percent.
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August 30, 2012
Labor productivity (output per hour) grew in wholesale trade and retail trade, and was
unchanged in food services and drinking places in 2011. Unit labor costs rose in
wholesale trade and food services and drinking places, but fell in retail trade.
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May 31, 2012
Labor productivity rose in 69 percent of the detailed service-providing and mining industries studied in
2010, up from 42 percent of the industries in 2009. More industries recorded productivity increases in
2010 than in any year since 2003.
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March 29, 2012
Labor productivity rose in 83 percent of the detailed manufacturing industries
studied in 2010, up from 30 percent of the industries in 2009 and a higher
percentage than in any year since 2005.
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Database Name | Special Notice |
Top Picks |
One Screen |
Multi- Screen |
Tables | Text Files |
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Major Sector Productivity and Costs |
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Industry Productivity and Costs |
Major Sector Productivity and Cost Data (Quarterly and Annual) |
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News Release | |||
Major Sector Productivity staff | (202) 691-5606 | Staff | |
Labor Productivity and Related Data | |||
Analysis and methodology | |||
John Glaser | (202) 691-5607 | Glaser.John@bls.gov | |
Data | |||
Shawn Sprague | (202) 691-5612 | Sprague.Shawn@bls.gov | |
Employment and Hours | |||
Nonfarm employees | |||
Shawn Sprague | (202) 691-5612 | Sprague.Shawn@bls.gov | |
Other nonfarm and farm | |||
John Glaser | (202) 691-5607 | Glaser.John@bls.gov | |
Hours-At-Work Ratios | |||
Shawn Sprague | (202) 691-5612 | Sprague.Shawn@bls.gov | |
Industry Productivity and Cost Data (Annual) |
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Labor Productivity and Related Data | |||
Industry Productivity Studies staff | (202) 691-5618 | Staff | |
Methodology | |||
Lisa Usher | (202) 691-5641 | Usher.Lisa@bls.gov | |
Mark Dumas | (202) 691-5635 | Dumas.Mark@bls.gov | |
Chris Kask | (202) 691-5647 | Kask.Chris@bls.gov | |
Victor Torres | (202) 691-5626 | Torres.Victor@bls.gov |