An official website of the United States government
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, May 28, 2020 USDL-20-1103
Technical information: (202) 691-5606 • productivity@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lpc
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY
SELECTED SERVICE-PROVIDING INDUSTRIES -- 2019
Labor productivity rose in 14 of 29 selected service-providing industries in 2019, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was one-third fewer industries compared to 2018
when labor productivity increased in 21 of 29 industries. Output increased in 17 industries in
2019 while hours worked increased in 18 industries.
Trends in Labor Productivity in 2019
• Labor productivity increased in 14 of 29 industries in 2019. Among those with increasing
productivity, output grew in 9 industries and hours worked grew in 5 industries.
• Productivity gains of at least 6.0 percent occurred in 2 industries: wireless
telecommunications carriers (13.2 percent) and gambling industries (8.8 percent). In both
industries, output increases coincided with declines in hours worked.
• Hours worked grew in 18 of the 29 industries.
• Hours worked increased in 13 out of the 15 industries which recorded declines in
productivity. Of these, the largest gains in hours worked were in couriers and messengers
(13.4 percent) and truck, utility trailer, and RV rental and leasing (8.1 percent); all
other industries had gains of 4.0 percent or less.
Unit labor costs declined in 5 industries in 2019. Each of the industries with a decline in
unit labor costs also recorded an increase in productivity. Increases in labor productivity
counter the impact of rising hourly compensation on unit labor costs facing employers.
Trends in Unit Labor Costs in 2019
• The largest declines in unit labor costs were in periodical publishers (-6.7 percent) and
gambling industries (-5.3 percent). Productivity grew in both industries while hourly
compensation fell in periodical publishers and rose in gambling industries.
• All unit labor cost declines occurred in industries where productivity rose.
• Each of the industries where productivity fell also recorded an increase in unit labor
costs.
• Hourly compensation rose in 27 of the 29 industries measured.
Long Term Productivity Trends
• Over the long term, productivity rose in 46 out of 58 service-providing industries. For the
majority of the industries studied, this period extends from 1987 to 2018.
• Median long term productivity growth for all 58 industries was approximately 1.5 percent
per year.
• Output increased over the long term in 45 industries while hours worked increased in 38
industries.
• Productivity increased in 41 of the 58 industries in the period from 2007 to 2018 that
began with a severe recession. During this period, only 38 industries had increases in
output and 25 experienced growth in hours worked.
Additional Information
Time periods for data covered by this release precede, and are therefore not impacted by,
COVID-19.
The productivity and costs measures in this release incorporate data from the Census Bureau’s
Service Annual Survey (November 2019) and Nonemployer Statistics (June 2019). Accordingly, the
labor productivity and output series for all industries have been revised for 2018 and earlier
years.
Access the productivity data dashboard at www.bls.gov/lpc/lpc_by_industry_dashboard.xlsx for
• Additional industries and sectors
• Detailed data series: indexes of productivity and related measures; rates of change; and
levels of industry employment, hours worked, nominal value of production, and labor
compensation
• Additional years and long-term data
Subscribe to productivity news releases on the BLS website at
subscriptions.bls.gov/accounts/USDOLBLS/subscriber/new.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon
request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Technical Note
Labor Productivity: Labor productivity describes the relationship between real output and the
labor hours involved in its production. These measures show the changes from period to period in
the amount of goods and services produced per hour worked. Although the labor productivity
measures relate output in an industry to hours worked of all persons in that industry, they do not
measure the specific contribution of labor to growth in output. Rather, they reflect the joint effects
of many influences, including: changes in technology; capital investment; utilization of capacity,
energy, and materials; the use of purchased services inputs, including contract employment
services; the organization of production; the characteristics and effort of the workforce; and
managerial skill.
Unit Labor Costs: Unit labor costs represent the cost of labor required to produce one unit of
output. The unit labor cost indexes are computed by dividing an index of nominal industry labor
compensation by an index of real industry output. Unit labor costs also describe the relationship
between compensation per hour and real output per hour (labor productivity). Increases in hourly
compensation increase unit labor costs; increases in labor productivity offset compensation
increases and reduce unit labor costs.
Output: Real industry output is measured as an annual-weighted index of the changes in the
various products (in real terms) provided for sale outside the industry. Real industry output is
usually derived by deflating nominal sales or values of production using BLS price indexes, but for
some industries it is measured by physical quantities of output.
Industry output measures are constructed primarily using data from the economic censuses and
annual surveys of the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, together with
information on price changes from BLS. Other data sources include: the Energy Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy; the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S.
Department of Transportation; the U.S. Postal Service; the Postal Rate Commission; and the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Data from the Quarterly Service Survey from the Census
Bureau are used to construct preliminary output measures for 2019 for some industries. Data from
both the Census Bureau's Quarterly Service Survey and Monthly Retail Trade Survey are used to
construct preliminary output measures for 2019 for some industries.
Labor Hours: Labor hours are measured as annual hours worked by all employed persons in an
industry. Data on industry employment and hours come primarily from the BLS Current
Employment Statistics (CES) survey and Current Population Survey (CPS). CES data on the
number of total and production worker jobs held by wage and salary workers in nonfarm
establishments are supplemented with CPS self-employed and unpaid family worker data to
estimate industry employment. Hours worked estimates are derived using CES and CPS
employment, CES data on the average weekly hours paid of production workers, CPS data on
hours of nonproduction, self-employed, and unpaid family workers, and ratios of hours worked to
hours paid based on data from the National Compensation Survey (NCS). For some industries,
employment and hours data are supplemented or further disaggregated using data from the BLS
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), the Census Bureau, or other sources.
Additional sources of employment and hours data for certain service industries include the
Association of American Railroads, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Postal
Service. Hours worked are estimated separately for different types of workers and then are directly
aggregated; no adjustments for labor composition are made.
Labor Compensation: Labor compensation, defined as payroll plus supplemental payments, is a
measure of the cost to the employer of securing the services of labor. Payroll includes salaries,
wages, commissions, dismissal pay, bonuses, vacation and sick leave pay, and compensation in
kind. Supplemental payments include both legally required expenditures and payments for
voluntary programs. The legally required portion consists primarily of federal old age and
survivors’ insurance, unemployment compensation, and workers’ compensation. Payments for
voluntary programs include all programs not specifically required by legislation, such as the
employer portion of private health insurance and pension plans. Industry compensation measures
are constructed primarily using data from the economic censuses and annual surveys of the Census
Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. The estimates for 2019 are constructed using data from
the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).
| Industry | 2017 NAICS code | 2019 Employment (thousands) |
Percent change, 2018-2019 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor productivity | Unit labor costs | Output | Hours worked | Labor compensation | |||
Utilities |
|||||||
Utilities |
22 |
549.0 | -0.1 | 5.0 | -1.8 | -1.8 | 3.1 |
Utilities |
221 |
549.0 | -0.1 | 5.0 | -1.8 | -1.8 | 3.1 |
Power generation and supply |
2211 |
385.5 | 1.1 | 5.2 | -2.6 | -3.7 | 2.5 |
Natural gas distribution |
2212 |
110.3 | -2.2 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 4.9 |
Water, sewage and other systems |
2213 |
53.2 | -3.7 | 8.1 | -2.5 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
Transportation and Warehousing |
|||||||
Air transportation |
481 |
492.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 7.7 |
Line-haul railroads |
482111 |
158.8 | 5.3 | -1.9 | -0.1 | -5.1 | -1.9 |
Truck transportation |
484 |
1,765.7 | -6.4 | 11.0 | -4.2 | 2.3 | 6.3 |
General freight trucking |
4841 |
1,274.3 | -6.6 | 11.3 | -4.3 | 2.5 | 6.6 |
General freight trucking, local |
48411 |
343.9 | -11.2 | 18.4 | -8.3 | 3.3 | 8.5 |
General freight trucking, long-distance |
48412 |
930.4 | -5.5 | 9.8 | -3.5 | 2.2 | 6.0 |
Specialized freight trucking |
4842 |
491.4 | -6.0 | 10.2 | -4.2 | 1.9 | 5.6 |
Postal service |
491 |
607.3 | -2.7 | 11.4 | -2.4 | 0.3 | 8.7 |
Postal service |
4911 |
607.3 | -2.7 | 11.4 | -2.4 | 0.3 | 8.7 |
Couriers and messengers |
492 |
872.5 | -10.8 | 13.2 | 1.1 | 13.4 | 14.5 |
Warehousing and storage |
493 |
1,197.7 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 9.5 |
Warehousing and storage |
4931 |
1,197.7 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 9.5 |
Information |
|||||||
Publishing |
511 |
790.6 | 6.6 | -0.5 | 8.2 | 1.4 | 7.6 |
Newspaper, book, and directory publishers |
5111 |
329.5 | 2.6 | 0.3 | -5.3 | -7.7 | -5.0 |
Newspaper publishers |
51111 |
144.4 | 1.5 | 5.9 | -6.7 | -8.0 | -1.2 |
Periodical publishers |
51112 |
90.2 | 5.9 | -6.7 | -2.2 | -7.6 | -8.8 |
Software publishers |
5112 |
461.1 | 4.8 | -1.1 | 13.5 | 8.3 | 12.3 |
Broadcasting, except Internet |
515 |
277.7 | -0.9 | 5.2 | -0.3 | 0.6 | 4.9 |
Radio and television broadcasting |
5151 |
222.8 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 5.9 |
Cable and other subscription programming |
5152 |
54.9 | -2.4 | 5.4 | -2.4 | -0.1 | 2.9 |
Wired and wireless telecommunications carriers |
5173 |
630.5 | 7.9 | 0.7 | -0.3 | -7.6 | 0.4 |
Wired telecommunications carriers |
517311 |
523.6 | 5.5 | 2.1 | -2.1 | -7.2 | -0.1 |
Wireless telecommunications carriers |
517312 |
106.9 | 13.2 | -0.5 | 2.3 | -9.6 | 1.8 |
Finance and Insurance |
|||||||
Commercial banking |
52211 |
1,391.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.9 | -0.6 | 2.7 |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
|||||||
Truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing |
53212 |
91.8 | -5.7 | 10.4 | 1.9 | 8.1 | 12.6 |
Professional and Technical Services |
|||||||
Accounting and bookkeeping services |
5412 |
1,191.6 | -1.8 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 4.6 |
Accounting and bookkeeping services |
54121 |
1,191.6 | -1.8 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 4.6 |
Engineering services |
54133 |
1,044.3 | -2.3 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 4.9 |
Administrative and Waste Services |
|||||||
Travel arrangement and reservation services |
5615 |
248.8 | 0.0 | 6.4 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 5.7 |
Health Care and Social Assistance |
|||||||
Medical and diagnostic laboratories |
6215 |
299.3 | -1.2 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 9.1 |
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
|||||||
Amusement parks and arcades |
7131 |
229.3 | -0.7 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 6.6 |
Gambling industries |
7132 |
124.2 | 8.8 | -5.3 | 4.5 | -4.0 | -1.1 |
Accommodation and Food Services |
|||||||
Food services and drinking places |
722 |
12,289.8 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 5.5 |
Restaurants and other eating places |
72251 |
11,008.1 | 0.3 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 5.5 |
Full-service restaurants |
722511 |
5,565.8 | -2.2 | 6.7 | -1.9 | 0.3 | 4.7 |
Limited-service eating places |
722513,4,5 |
5,442.3 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 6.7 |
Other Services |
|||||||
Automotive repair and maintenance |
8111 |
1,165.0 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | -2.9 | 1.3 |
Drycleaning and laundry services |
8123 |
306.0 | -3.4 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Industry | 2017 NAICS code | 2018 Employment (thousands) |
Average annual percent change, 1987-2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor productivity | Unit labor costs | Output | Hours worked | Labor compensation | |||
Utilities |
|||||||
Utilities |
22 |
553.4 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | -0.7 | 2.9 |
Utilities |
221 |
553.4 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | -0.7 | 2.9 |
Power generation and supply |
2211 |
391.4 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.1 | -0.9 | 2.7 |
Natural gas distribution |
2212 |
109.8 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.1 | -1.1 | 3.2 |
Water, sewage and other systems |
2213 |
52.2 | -1.7 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 5.4 |
Transportation and Warehousing |
|||||||
Air transportation |
481 |
481.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.8 | -0.3 | 3.7 |
Line-haul railroads |
482111 |
166.2 | 3.5 | -0.4 | 1.8 | -1.6 | 1.4 |
Truck transportation(1) |
484 |
1,708.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 3.2 |
General freight trucking(1) |
4841 |
1,228.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.6 |
General freight trucking, local(1) |
48411 |
326.7 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 4.0 |
General freight trucking, long-distance |
48412 |
901.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 |
Specialized freight trucking(2) |
4842 |
479.7 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 4.1 |
Used household and office goods moving |
48421 |
101.4 | -0.6 | 2.6 | -0.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
Other specialized trucking, local(2) |
48422 |
237.6 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 4.4 |
Other specialized trucking, long-distance(2) |
48423 |
140.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 4.9 |
Postal service |
491 |
608.5 | 0.4 | 2.9 | -0.6 | -1.0 | 2.3 |
Postal service |
4911 |
608.5 | 0.4 | 2.9 | -0.6 | -1.0 | 2.3 |
Couriers and messengers |
492 |
771.2 | -2.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 4.0 |
Warehousing and storage(1) |
493 |
1,142.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 6.1 |
Warehousing and storage(1) |
4931 |
1,142.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 6.1 |
General warehousing and storage(1) |
49311 |
1,017.3 | 2.0 | -0.1 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 6.6 |
Refrigerated warehousing and storage(1) |
49312 |
64.5 | -0.3 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 4.6 |
Information |
|||||||
Publishing |
511 |
767.8 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 3.5 | -0.4 | 5.2 |
Newspaper, book, and directory publishers |
5111 |
350.1 | 0.2 | 4.0 | -2.6 | -2.8 | 1.2 |
Newspaper publishers |
51111 |
152.4 | -0.5 | 3.8 | -4.2 | -3.8 | -0.6 |
Periodical publishers |
51112 |
95.4 | -0.3 | 4.8 | -1.7 | -1.5 | 3.0 |
Book publishers |
51113 |
64.5 | -0.2 | 4.7 | -1.1 | -0.9 | 3.6 |
Software publishers |
5112 |
417.7 | 10.4 | -5.0 | 17.1 | 6.0 | 11.2 |
Motion picture and video exhibition |
51213 |
152.2 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
Broadcasting, except Internet |
515 |
275.6 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 2.9 | -0.1 | 4.4 |
Radio and television broadcasting |
5151 |
221.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 | -0.4 | 3.4 |
Radio broadcasting |
51511 |
85.2 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | -1.2 | 3.7 |
Cable and other subscription programming |
5152 |
54.4 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 1.2 | 9.0 |
Wired and wireless telecommunications carriers |
5173 |
666.4 | 6.6 | -3.0 | 5.8 | -0.7 | 2.7 |
Wired telecommunications carriers |
517311 |
551.7 | 3.6 | -0.5 | 2.4 | -1.2 | 1.9 |
Wireless telecommunications carriers |
517312 |
114.7 | 12.1 | -7.0 | 18.2 | 5.5 | 9.9 |
Finance and Insurance |
|||||||
Commercial banking |
52211 |
1,381.4 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.9 | -0.1 | 5.0 |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
|||||||
Passenger car rental |
532111 |
124.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 4.7 |
Truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing |
53212 |
84.8 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 4.1 |
Video tape and disc rental |
532282 |
10.5 | 5.1 | -0.8 | -2.7 | -7.5 | -3.5 |
Professional and Technical Services |
|||||||
Accounting and bookkeeping services(3) |
5412 |
1,162.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 4.4 |
Accounting and bookkeeping services(3) |
54121 |
1,162.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 4.4 |
Offices of certified public accountants(3) |
541211 |
492.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 5.2 |
Tax preparation services |
541213 |
135.1 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
Other accounting services(3) |
541219 |
360.6 | 4.4 | -1.4 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
Architectural services |
54131 |
211.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
Engineering services |
54133 |
1,014.7 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 5.6 |
Advertising agencies |
54181 |
229.3 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 4.6 |
Photography studios, portrait |
541921 |
53.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
Veterinary services(4) |
54194 |
407.4 | -0.9 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 6.1 |
Administrative and Waste Services |
|||||||
Employment placement and executive search(5) |
56131 |
303.8 | 4.7 | -0.5 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 5.3 |
Travel arrangement and reservation services(3) |
5615 |
245.6 | 6.3 | -1.3 | 4.3 | -0.3 | 2.9 |
Travel agencies |
56151 |
107.6 | 6.0 | -1.1 | 4.9 | -1.1 | 3.7 |
Janitorial services |
56172 |
1,408.6 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 5.1 |
Health Care and Social Assistance |
|||||||
Medical and diagnostic laboratories(5) |
6215 |
287.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 3.2 | 5.5 |
Medical laboratories(5) |
621511 |
205.6 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 4.9 | 3.3 | 5.4 |
Diagnostic imaging centers(5) |
621512 |
82.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 5.8 |
Hospitals, except psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals(6) |
6221,3 |
4,886.1 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 5.3 |
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
|||||||
Amusement parks and arcades(7) |
7131 |
215.3 | 0.4 | 5.0 | -0.1 | 1.8 | 4.9 |
Amusement and theme parks |
71311 |
185.4 | 0.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 5.9 |
Gambling industries(3) |
7132 |
126.2 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 4.0 |
Golf courses and country clubs(2) |
71391 |
391.4 | -1.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
Fitness and recreational sports centers(2) |
71394 |
674.0 | 3.3 | -0.3 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 3.8 |
Bowling centers |
71395 |
70.9 | 0.8 | 2.6 | -0.9 | -1.6 | 1.7 |
Accommodation and Food Services |
|||||||
Accommodation and food services |
72 |
14,176.1 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 5.1 |
Accommodation |
721 |
2,060.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 4.6 |
Traveler accommodation |
7211 |
1,969.0 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 4.6 |
Hotels and motels, except casino hotels |
72111 |
1,655.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 4.7 |
Food services and drinking places |
722 |
12,115.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 5.3 |
Special food services |
7223 |
869.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 4.0 |
Drinking places, alcoholic beverages |
7224 |
408.1 | -0.3 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
Restaurants and other eating places |
72251 |
10,837.6 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 5.6 |
Full-service restaurants |
722511 |
5,534.5 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 5.9 |
Limited-service eating places |
722513,4,5 |
5,303.1 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
Other Services |
|||||||
Automotive repair and maintenance |
8111 |
1,173.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3.8 |
Reupholstery and furniture repair |
81142 |
19.5 | -0.8 | 3.6 | -2.8 | -2.0 | 0.8 |
Personal care services |
8121 |
1,301.5 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
Hair, nail, and skin care services |
81211 |
1,061.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 4.9 |
Funeral homes and funeral services |
81221 |
111.4 | -0.4 | 4.0 | -0.4 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
Drycleaning and laundry services |
8123 |
310.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.2 | -1.0 | 2.6 |
Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners |
81231 |
42.8 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | -2.3 | 2.4 |
Drycleaning and laundry services |
81232 |
134.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | -1.2 | -2.0 | 0.9 |
Linen and uniform supply |
81233 |
132.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 4.1 |
Photofinishing |
81292 |
10.0 | 3.0 | 1.7 | -3.9 | -6.7 | -2.3 |
|
Footnotes |
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