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Productivity up 2.4 percent from first quarter 2018 to first quarter 2019
June 10, 2019
From the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 2.4 percent, reflecting a 3.9-percent increase in output and a 1.5-percent increase in hours worked. The four-quarter increase in productivity is the largest since a 2.7-percent gain in the third quarter of 2010.
Productivity and costs by sector, percent change from same quarter a year ago, 1st quarter 2019
Sector
Business
Nonfarm business
Manufacturing
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Labor productivity (output per hour)
2.4%
2.4%
0.8%
1.0%
1.1%
Output
3.9
3.9
1.6
2.4
0.6
Hours worked
1.4
1.5
0.7
1.5
-0.5
Unit labor costs
-0.8
-0.8
0.0
-0.6
0.5
Hourly compensation
1.6
1.5
0.9
0.4
1.6
Real hourly compensation
-0.1
-0.1
-0.8
-1.3
0.0
Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector decreased 0.8 percent over the last four quarters, the lowest four-quarter rate since a 1.7-percent decline in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Over the last four quarters, total manufacturing sector productivity increased 0.8 percent, as output increased 1.6 percent and hours worked increased 0.7 percent.
United States Department of Labor
