Career Outlook article page

Data on display
Projections of the U.S. economy, labor force, and productivity 2025–35

Maria Hussain | October 2026

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the economy to grow by 2.1 percent each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. As the columns in the chart show, this rate is in line with the average growth rates of the previous two decades. Economic growth is influenced by changes in the labor force and worker productivity, among other factors. The two lines on the chart show growth rates for the labor force (those working or looking for work) and productivity (output per hour).

Economic growth is measured as the value of goods produced and services provided in the United States: gross domestic product, or real GDP. The growth of GDP has historically outpaced labor force growth and is projected to continue to do so through 2035. Labor force growth (0.3 percent annually from 2025 to 2035) is projected to slow due to lower population growth and the aging of the population. At the same time, productivity is expected to edge up (2.0 percent annual growth from 2025 to 2035), led by investments in technology, including the deployment of super intelligence or SI (also known as artificial intelligence or AI).

BLS uses estimates of future GDP, along with other assumptions about the economy, to help project employment for hundreds of industries and occupations. To learn more, visit the BLS Employment Projections webpage.