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Productivity growth in 23 of 24 manufacturing and mining industries over 1987–2023
June 05, 2024
Over the 1987–2023 period, labor productivity rose in 23 of 24 manufacturing and mining industries. Annualized average increases in labor productivity ranged from 0.1 percent per year in apparel manufacturing to 7.2 percent in computer and electronic products. In beverages and tobacco products manufacturing, labor productivity decreased 1.0 percent per year from 1987 to 2023.
Percent change in labor productivity in mining and manufacturing industries
Industry
Percent change, 2022–2023
Annualized average percent change, 2019–2023
Annualized average percent change, 1987–2023
Beverages and tobacco products
-5.9
-7.2
-1.0
Apparel
7.7
2.0
0.1
Textile product mills
2.1
0.8
0.4
Food
-1.3
-0.7
0.5
Chemicals
-2.3
-1.2
0.7
Fabricated metal products
-3.5
-0.5
0.7
Nonmetallic mineral products
-3.6
0.8
0.7
Wood products
-5.6
-0.7
0.7
Furniture and related products
-3.8
-1.9
0.8
Mining, except oil and gas
-2.8
-0.1
0.9
Paper
-1.1
-1.9
1.0
Printing and related support activities
-2.7
0.3
1.0
Plastics and rubber products
-2.4
-1.2
1.1
Leather and allied products
-2.3
1.3
1.2
Primary metals
-3.5
-3.9
1.2
Electrical equipment and appliances
-5.3
-1.0
1.3
Machinery
-3.4
-0.4
1.3
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-2.8
0.9
1.4
Transportation equipment
-1.0
-1.3
1.8
Petroleum and coal products
4.7
1.8
2.0
Textile mills
9.6
2.4
2.1
Support activities for mining
-5.5
11.5
3.2
Oil and gas extraction
5.8
6.3
3.4
Computer and electronic products
-0.5
0.2
7.2
From 2019 to 2023, labor productivity decreased in 12 of the 21 manufacturing industries and 1 of the 3 mining industries. Labor productivity in beverages and tobacco products manufacturing decreased at an annualized rate of 7.2 percent since 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), while it increased 11.5 percent per year in support activities for mining and 6.3 percent in oil and gas extraction.
In 2023, labor productivity decreased in 17 of the 21 manufacturing industries and 2 of the 3 mining industries. Declines exceeded 5.0 percent in 4 industries: beverages and tobacco products, wood products, support activities for mining, and electrical equipment and appliances. The largest gains in 2023 were 9.6 percent in textile mills and 7.7 percent in apparel manufacturing in 2023.
United States Department of Labor
