Unit labor costs drop in 50 manufacturing industries
May 22, 2001
From 1998 to 1999, unit labor costs declined in 50 of 119 manufacturing industries measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[Chart data—TXT]
The largest declines in unit labor costs in 1999 were in the following industries: computer and office equipment (-24.8 percent); women's and children's undergarments (-22.9 percent); electronic components and accessories (-21.7 percent); and photographic equipment and supplies (-14.3 percent).
Unit labor costs—the cost of the labor input required to produce one unit of output—are computed by dividing total compensation by real output.
This information is from the Industry Productivity Program. Data are subject to revision. Industries discussed in this article are at the 3-digit level of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual. Additional information is available from "Productivity and Costs: Manufacturing Industries, 1990-99" news release USDL 01-141.
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United States Department of Labor
