Major Sector Productivity and Costs
Welcome to the step-by-step guide on how to use the Major Sector Productivity and Costs one-screen query system
Productivity and costs measures are published for six major sectors: Business, non-farm business, non-financial corporations, total manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing, and nondurable goods manufacturing.
For each sector, measures of industry analytic ratios (e.g., productivity, unit labor costs) are available as well as basic data (e.g., output, hours, and compensation) on which they are based. Output data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce; the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; and the Federal Reserve Board. Compensation data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and average weekly hours are selected from the BLS establishment survey, and, where necessary for the farm sector and for the self-employed, from the BLS labor force survey. The labor input measure is then converted to the hours at work concept using results of a special annual survey, conducted for this purpose.
This tool lets users query the BLS databases for specific data series. For each survey and program, make a selection for each characteristic in the order listed. As you make your selection, the remaining characteristics will filter to show only choices where data are available. After choosing the series, click on "Add to selection." If you need more data series, repeat the steps of choosing the data series you need. After you've finished finding the data series you need, click on the "Get Data" button to retrieve the data, and an HTML table with data for the most recent 10 years will display. If you desire a different time period or format, you may modify the options on the data display page, or click on the "More Formatting Options" button for additional options on refining the data retrieval results. Note: Users may not retrieve more than 200 data series in one query.
Users have the option of viewing measures within a sector, or sectors within a measure. Click on the radio button next to the desired view.
Type all or part of a search string in the search text box. The contents of the box will filter to show only those options that contain the search string.
Click on the Sector of the economy of interest to select. The Measures available will appear in the window to the right.
Type all or part of a search string in the search text box. The contents of the box will filter to show only those options that contain the search string.
Click each productivity Measure of interest in order to select.
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
Click on type Duration to select. Users may select one or more of the options presented. Duration indicates the level of change in productivity compared to the prior period. To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
You must make a selection for each of the characteristics in the order listed. Once you have selected all of the characteristics, the "Add to selection" button becomes active. Click the "Add to selection" button to list the selected data series in the "Your selection" box. You can return to the characteristics boxes and make new selections to request additional data series. Click the "Get Data" button to retrieve all the selected data series.
You must make a selection for each of the characteristics in the order listed. Once you have selected all of the characteristics, the "Get Data" button becomes active. Click to retrieve the data.
Last Modified Date: February 20, 2018
United States Department of Labor
