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From the second quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2016, nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 0.4 percent, as output rose 1.1 percent and hours worked rose 1.5 percent. The decline in productivity represents the first over-the-year decline since a 0.6-percent decrease in the second quarter of 2013. Manufacturing productivity increased 0.9 percent from the second quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2016, with output rising 0.3 percent and hours worked declining 0.6 percent.
Quarter | Nonfarm business | Business | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor productivity | Hours worked | Output | Real hourly compensation | Unit labor costs | Labor productivity | Hours worked | Output | Real hourly compensation | Unit labor costs | |
Q1 2006 |
1.3% | 2.4% | 3.8% | 0.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 3.7% | 0.8% | 3.2% |
Q2 2006 |
1.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
Q3 2006 |
0.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | -0.4 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | -0.4 | 2.7 |
Q4 2006 |
0.9 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 3.2 |
Q1 2007 |
0.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.2 |
Q2 2007 |
1.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 3.6 |
Q3 2007 |
2.7 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
Q4 2007 |
2.3 | -0.2 | 2.2 | -0.2 | 1.5 | 2.3 | -0.2 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
Q1 2008 |
1.2 | -0.4 | 0.7 | -1.7 | 1.1 | 1.3 | -0.5 | 0.8 | -1.6 | 1.1 |
Q2 2008 |
1.5 | -1.3 | 0.2 | -1.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | -1.2 | 0.3 | -1.9 | 0.9 |
Q3 2008 |
0.6 | -2.0 | -1.4 | -2.1 | 2.3 | 0.6 | -1.9 | -1.3 | -2.3 | 2.2 |
Q4 2008 |
-0.4 | -4.2 | -4.7 | 1.4 | 3.4 | -0.3 | -4.2 | -4.4 | 1.3 | 3.2 |
Q1 2009 |
1.4 | -6.5 | -5.2 | -0.4 | -1.9 | 1.4 | -6.4 | -5.1 | -0.4 | -1.9 |
Q2 2009 |
2.3 | -8.1 | -6.0 | 2.8 | -0.5 | 2.3 | -7.9 | -5.8 | 2.6 | -0.6 |
Q3 2009 |
3.5 | -8.2 | -5.0 | 3.3 | -1.8 | 3.7 | -8.1 | -4.6 | 3.3 | -2.1 |
Q4 2009 |
5.4 | -5.8 | -0.7 | -0.3 | -4.0 | 5.6 | -5.9 | -0.6 | -0.3 | -4.2 |
Q1 2010 |
5.2 | -3.2 | 1.8 | 0.7 | -2.0 | 5.2 | -3.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | -2.1 |
Q2 2010 |
3.6 | -0.3 | 3.2 | 0.0 | -1.8 | 3.6 | -0.3 | 3.3 | -0.1 | -1.9 |
Q3 2010 |
2.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 0.3 | -1.1 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 0.2 | -1.1 |
Q4 2010 |
1.8 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 0.1 | -0.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 0.0 | -0.4 |
Q1 2011 |
0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.3 |
Q2 2011 |
0.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | -1.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | -1.2 | 1.8 |
Q3 2011 |
-0.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | -1.4 | 2.6 | -0.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | -1.5 | 2.7 |
Q4 2011 |
0.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | -2.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | -2.7 | 0.6 |
Q1 2012 |
1.0 | 2.7 | 3.8 | -1.7 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | -1.6 | 0.3 |
Q2 2012 |
1.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
Q3 2012 |
1.3 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
Q4 2012 |
0.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 5.6 | -0.2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 6.0 |
Q1 2013 |
0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | -0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.7 | -0.5 | 0.8 |
Q2 2013 |
-0.6 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 2.4 | -0.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
Q3 2013 |
0.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Q4 2013 |
1.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | -1.3 | -1.6 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.6 | -1.3 | -2.0 |
Q1 2014 |
0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.3 |
Q2 2014 |
1.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | -0.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 3.1 | -0.3 | 0.9 |
Q3 2014 |
1.6 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
Q4 2014 |
0.2 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.7 | -0.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 2.8 |
Q1 2015 |
1.4 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
Q2 2015 |
1.2 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
Q3 2015 |
0.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
Q4 2015 |
0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
Q1 2016 |
0.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
Q2 2016 |
-0.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.1 | -0.4 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
Quarter | Manufacturing | Durable goods manufacturing | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor productivity | Hours worked | Output | Real hourly compensation | Unit labor costs | Labor productivity | Hours worked | Output | Real hourly compensation | Unit labor costs | |
Q1 2006 |
3.5% | 0.8% | 4.3% | -0.2% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 5.6% | 0.2% | -0.1% |
Q2 2006 |
2.3 | 1.9 | 4.2 | -2.3 | -0.7 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 5.3 | -1.8 | -0.4 |
Q3 2006 |
3.3 | 1.3 | 4.6 | -2.3 | -2.2 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 4.9 | -1.8 | -2.0 |
Q4 2006 |
4.0 | -0.9 | 3.1 | 1.7 | -0.2 | 2.9 | -1.0 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.8 |
Q1 2007 |
4.4 | -1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | -0.5 | 4.4 | -2.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | -0.2 |
Q2 2007 |
5.8 | -1.8 | 3.9 | 1.9 | -1.1 | 7.0 | -2.4 | 4.4 | 2.1 | -2.0 |
Q3 2007 |
6.5 | -1.6 | 4.8 | 1.9 | -2.0 | 6.9 | -1.5 | 5.3 | 2.1 | -2.3 |
Q4 2007 |
8.1 | -1.6 | 6.4 | -0.8 | -4.5 | 9.1 | -2.1 | 6.8 | -1.0 | -5.6 |
Q1 2008 |
9.4 | -1.9 | 7.3 | -2.6 | -7.3 | 8.8 | -1.9 | 6.7 | -3.5 | -7.6 |
Q2 2008 |
7.1 | -2.7 | 4.2 | -2.3 | -4.8 | 5.0 | -2.5 | 2.3 | -2.6 | -3.2 |
Q3 2008 |
3.0 | -4.2 | -1.3 | -2.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 | -5.1 | -3.0 | -1.9 | 1.0 |
Q4 2008 |
-3.8 | -7.1 | -10.6 | 2.8 | 8.5 | -6.6 | -7.4 | -13.6 | 2.5 | 11.5 |
Q1 2009 |
-10.0 | -11.7 | -20.6 | 2.7 | 14.0 | -12.5 | -13.4 | -24.2 | 2.7 | 17.2 |
Q2 2009 |
-10.2 | -15.1 | -23.7 | 5.6 | 16.5 | -12.1 | -17.9 | -27.9 | 6.5 | 20.1 |
Q3 2009 |
-6.2 | -14.1 | -19.5 | 5.3 | 10.6 | -7.2 | -16.6 | -22.7 | 5.7 | 12.1 |
Q4 2009 |
-0.2 | -10.6 | -10.8 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | -13.2 | -12.6 | 2.1 | 2.9 |
Q1 2010 |
7.7 | -4.8 | 2.5 | -0.4 | -5.3 | 9.5 | -6.5 | 2.4 | -0.2 | -6.7 |
Q2 2010 |
12.5 | 0.1 | 12.6 | -0.5 | -10.0 | 15.2 | -0.4 | 14.7 | -0.1 | -11.8 |
Q3 2010 |
11.6 | 2.4 | 14.3 | -0.2 | -9.5 | 11.8 | 3.0 | 15.1 | -0.2 | -9.7 |
Q4 2010 |
10.9 | 2.4 | 13.6 | -0.4 | -9.1 | 10.6 | 3.4 | 14.3 | -0.7 | -9.1 |
Q1 2011 |
8.9 | 2.5 | 11.6 | 1.8 | -4.5 | 8.8 | 3.9 | 13.1 | 2.9 | -3.4 |
Q2 2011 |
5.1 | 2.3 | 7.6 | -1.6 | -3.3 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 8.2 | -2.3 | -2.4 |
Q3 2011 |
5.1 | 1.1 | 6.3 | -1.7 | -3.0 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 7.1 | -1.6 | -2.2 |
Q4 2011 |
3.3 | 2.5 | 5.8 | -3.8 | -3.7 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 7.2 | -4.0 | -3.6 |
Q1 2012 |
2.7 | 2.7 | 5.4 | -1.9 | -1.7 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 6.9 | -2.1 | -2.2 |
Q2 2012 |
2.6 | 2.5 | 5.1 | -0.2 | -0.8 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 7.2 | -0.3 | -2.2 |
Q3 2012 |
0.7 | 2.6 | 3.4 | -0.6 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 4.6 | -1.3 | -0.9 |
Q4 2012 |
1.1 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
Q1 2013 |
0.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | -1.8 | -0.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | -2.8 | -1.2 |
Q2 2013 |
0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | -0.9 | -0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | -1.6 | -0.5 |
Q3 2013 |
0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | -0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | -0.7 | 0.5 |
Q4 2013 |
-0.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | -1.6 | 0.2 | -0.2 | 1.9 | 1.7 | -2.7 | -1.2 |
Q1 2014 |
-0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
Q2 2014 |
-0.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | -0.3 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 3.0 | -0.8 | 0.9 |
Q3 2014 |
0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | -0.1 | 0.7 |
Q4 2014 |
0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
Q1 2015 |
0.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | -0.4 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
Q2 2015 |
0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | -0.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
Q3 2015 |
0.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | -0.5 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
Q4 2015 |
0.6 | -0.4 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 0.2 | -0.9 | -0.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
Q1 2016 |
1.4 | -0.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.2 | -0.9 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
Q2 2016 |
0.9 | -0.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | -1.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
Quarter | Nondurable goods manufacturing | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor productivity | Hours worked | Output | Real hourly compensation | Unit labor costs | |
Q1 2006 |
1.2% | -0.3% | 0.9% | -1.3% | 1.2% |
Q2 2006 |
0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | -3.5 | 0.1 |
Q3 2006 |
0.5 | 1.3 | 1.9 | -3.1 | -0.4 |
Q4 2006 |
3.0 | -0.8 | 2.2 | -0.3 | -1.3 |
Q1 2007 |
2.7 | -1.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
Q2 2007 |
2.8 | -0.7 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Q3 2007 |
4.0 | -1.6 | 2.3 | 1.5 | -0.1 |
Q4 2007 |
3.4 | -0.7 | 2.7 | -0.3 | 0.3 |
Q1 2008 |
4.9 | -2.1 | 2.7 | -0.9 | -1.6 |
Q2 2008 |
4.1 | -2.9 | 1.0 | -1.7 | -1.5 |
Q3 2008 |
-0.6 | -2.7 | -3.3 | -1.9 | 3.9 |
Q4 2008 |
-1.8 | -6.6 | -8.2 | 3.4 | 7.0 |
Q1 2009 |
-5.4 | -8.8 | -13.8 | 3.2 | 9.0 |
Q2 2009 |
-5.1 | -10.0 | -14.6 | 4.7 | 9.4 |
Q3 2009 |
-1.6 | -9.8 | -11.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
Q4 2009 |
0.6 | -6.1 | -5.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 |
Q1 2010 |
4.7 | -2.1 | 2.5 | -0.5 | -2.8 |
Q2 2010 |
6.8 | 0.8 | 7.7 | -1.1 | -5.8 |
Q3 2010 |
7.4 | 1.5 | 9.0 | -0.3 | -6.1 |
Q4 2010 |
6.9 | 0.9 | 7.8 | -0.1 | -5.4 |
Q1 2011 |
5.5 | 0.2 | 5.7 | -0.3 | -3.5 |
Q2 2011 |
4.6 | -1.3 | 3.3 | -0.9 | -2.1 |
Q3 2011 |
3.9 | -1.3 | 2.6 | -2.3 | -2.5 |
Q4 2011 |
2.5 | -0.3 | 2.2 | -3.8 | -3.0 |
Q1 2012 |
1.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | -1.7 | -0.6 |
Q2 2012 |
0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | -0.1 | 1.2 |
Q3 2012 |
-0.1 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
Q4 2012 |
0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 3.4 |
Q1 2013 |
1.1 | 0.7 | 1.8 | -0.1 | 0.5 |
Q2 2013 |
1.7 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | -0.1 |
Q3 2013 |
1.0 | -0.1 | 0.9 | -0.3 | 0.2 |
Q4 2013 |
-0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
Q1 2014 |
-0.9 | 0.2 | -0.7 | 2.9 | 5.3 |
Q2 2014 |
-0.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
Q3 2014 |
0.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
Q4 2014 |
0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.6 |
Q1 2015 |
0.8 | 1.8 | 2.7 | -0.3 | -1.2 |
Q2 2015 |
0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 |
Q3 2015 |
0.0 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
Q4 2015 |
0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
Q1 2016 |
1.5 | -0.4 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
Q2 2016 |
0.3 | -0.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 3.0 |
Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 2.1 percent from the second quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2016. Over the same period, unit labor costs in manufacturing increased 1.7 percent.
These data are from the Labor Productivity and Costs program. All percent changes shown are subject to revision. To learn more, see "Productivity and Costs — Second Quarter 2016, Preliminary" (HTML) (PDF). Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked for all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Unit labor costs are the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity. Increases in hourly compensation raise unit labor costs, and increases in output per hour reduce unit labor costs.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Productivity decreased 0.4 percent from Q2 2015 to Q2 2016 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/productivity-decreased-0-point-4-percent-from-q2-2015-to-q2-2016.htm (visited December 07, 2024).