News release: “Labor productivity — defined as output per hour — rose in 46 percent of the 138 detailed manufacturing,
mining, and service-providing industries studied in 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was down from the 62 percent that recorded productivity increases the previous year. Unit labor costs, which reflect the total labor costs required to produce a unit of output, declined in 30 percent of the industries, compared to 20 percent in 2007. Fewer industries recorded productivity increases in 2008 than in any other year since 1988. Output rose in fewer industries and hours declined in more industries in 2008 compared to 2007. Output rose in 41 of the 138 industries examined, compared to 72 in 2007; hours declined in 101, compared to 79 industries in 2007. The percent of industries with output increases declined each year from 2005 to 2008, with the
largest drop occurring in 2008. The percent of industries with declining hours rose each year from 2006 to 2008, with the largest increase occurring in 2008.”