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Productivity

Productivity Home Page

The Office of Productivity and Technology (OPT) measures how efficiently the U.S. converts inputs into the outputs of goods and services.  Measures of labor productivity compare the growth in output to the growth in hours worked and measures of total factor productivity (TFP), also known as multifactor productivity (MFP), compare growth in output to the growth in a combination of inputs that include labor, capital, energy, materials, and purchased services.

Notices

  • New research exploring the rise in remote work and productivity Read More »
  • Updated Higher-frequency Output for Retail Industries – September 2024 Read More »
  • Updated Construction Industries Productivity Highlights – 2023 Read More »

Videos

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Graphics

Chart data are included in the linked page below. Bar chart of labor productivity average annual percent changes in the non farm business sector for business cycles since 1947.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: Long-term labor productivity in the nonfarm business sector since 1947.

State map of labor productivity, 1-year percent change. Chart data are included in the linked table below.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: Labor Productivity by State, Percent Change.

Stacked bar graph of the contribution of sources that total labor productivity, total factor productivity, labor composition, capital intensity. Average annual percent changem in in private business sector business cycles. Chart data are included in the linked table below.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: Contributions to Labor Productivity Growth, Private Nonfarm Business Sector, Selected Time Periods.

Chart data are included in the linked table below. Line graph of labor productivity and real hourly compenstation since 1973, commonly referred to as the wage gap. In log index values with base year 1973.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: Labor Productivity and Real Hourly Compensation, Nonfarm Business Sector since 1973.

Line graph of detailed industries labor productivity indexes of food and beverage store industries: Beer and wine liquor stores (NAICS 4453), Food and beverage stores (NAICS 445), Grocery stores (NAICS 4451), and Specialty food stores (NAICS 4452).  Chart data are included in the linked table below.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: Detailed Industries Help Tell the Story, Indexes of Productivity Within Food and Beverage Stores.

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Latest Numbers

RSS
NONFARM BUSINESS SECTOR:

Labor productivity (output per hour) +2.2% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Hourly compensation +4.2% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Unit labor costs +1.9% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Real value-added output +3.5% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Hours worked +1.2% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

MANUFACTURING SECTOR:

Labor productivity (output per hour) +1.0% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Hourly compensation +6.4% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Unit labor costs +5.3% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Real sectoral output -0.2% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

Hours worked -1.2% in 3rd Qtr of 2024 Historical Data

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News Releases

Productivity increases 2.2% in Q3 2024; unit labor costs increase 1.9% (annual rates)

11/07/2024

Productivity increased 2.2 percent in the nonfarm business sector in the third quarter of 2024; unit labor costs increased 1.9 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rates). In manufacturing, productivity increased 1.0 percent and unit labor costs increased 5.3 percent.
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Productivity falls in 25 of 46 wholesale and retail trade industries in 2023

05/30/2024

Wholesale trade productivity fell 1.6 percent with hours worked growing at a higher rate than output. Retail trade productivity increased 1.6 percent in 2023, rebounding from the decline in 2022. Unit labor costs rose 6.4 percent in wholesale trade and 0.5 percent in retail trade.
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Productivity increases in 15 of 30 selected service-providing industries in 2023

06/27/2024

Labor productivity rose in 15 of 30 selected service-providing industries in 2023. Output increased in 16 industries while hours worked rose in 14 industries.
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Productivity rises in 36 states in 2023

05/30/2024

Labor productivity increased in 36 states in 2023. Output increased in 47 states and the District of Columbia and hours worked increased in 42 states and the District.
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Productivity falls in 63 of 91 manufacturing and mining industries in 2023

04/25/2024

Labor productivity decreased in 60 of the 86 NAICS 4-digit manufacturing industries and in 3 of the 5 mining industries in 2023. Output fell in 74 of the 91 manufacturing and mining industries while hours worked fell in 45 industries. Thirty-eight industries decreased both output and hours worked.
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Total factor productivity increased 0.7% in 2023, following a 1.6% decrease in 2022

03/21/2024

Total factor productivity increased 0.7 percent in the private nonfarm business sector in 2023 as output increased 2.6 percent and combined inputs increased 1.9 percent.
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Total factor productivity increases in 9 out of 21 major industries in 2022

11/21/2023

In 2022, total factor productivity increased in 9 out of 21 major industries, led by service providing industries.
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Total factor productivity up in 78 of 86 4-digit NAICS manufacturing industries in 2021

08/31/2023

Total factor productivity rose in 78 of 86 4-digit NAICS manufacturing industries in 2021, up from 25 industries in 2020. Among the two measured transportation industries, total factor productivity increased in both air transportation and line-haul railroads.
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Next Releases

Productivity and Costs: Third Quarter 2024, Revised is scheduled to be released on December 10, 2024 at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.
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Publications

The Economics Daily

The Economics Daily article image

Self-employed revenue in pet care services industry $2.5 billion in 2021

Demand for individualized pet care from pet owners combined with the advancement of technology has allowed small establishments to compete with larger firms. Smartphone technology and platform applications now make it possible for independent pet care service providers to reach a much larger pool of potential customers. read more »

Beyond the Numbers

Beyond the Numbers article image

A “tail” of productivity in pet care services: new technology enables rapid growth

This Beyond the Numbers article uses new labor productivity and related data series from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics productivity program to examine how pet ownership trends are changing. Productivity data for the pet care services industry show trends such as increased pet ownership; younger pet owners choosing to pay more for individualized, quality pet care; and “pet tech” bringing the gig economy to pet owners and integrating technology into how they care for their pets. read more »

Monthly Labor Review

Monthly Labor Review article image

An improved estimate of self-employment hours for quarterly labor productivity

This article describes two adjustments to self-employment hours that will improve quarterly measures of labor productivity. read more »

Spotlight on Statistics

Spotlight on Statistics article image

Spotlight on State Productivity Statistics

This Spotlight looks at some short- and long-term state-level trends for labor productivity, output, and hours worked, and labor compensation. read more »