For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, May 25, 2023 USDL-23-1089

Technical Information: (202) 691-5606 • productivity@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/productivity

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY

WHOLESALE TRADE AND RETAIL TRADE INDUSTRIES – 2022

Labor productivity declined 1.2 percent in wholesale trade and 0.4 percent in retail trade in 2022, the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Unit labor costs, which reflect the total labor costs 

required to produce a unit of output, rose in both wholesale trade and retail trade. 

Annual productivity decreased in retail trade for the first time since 2008, with output declining at a 

faster rate than hours worked. In wholesale trade, annual productivity decreased for the first time since 

2011, with hours worked growing at a higher rate than output. This was the second year in a row of 

increasing output and hours worked for wholesale trade after declining in 2020. 

Chart 1. Largest changes in productivity in four-digit NAICS wholesale and retail trade industries, 2022 

All 6 four-digit NAICS industries with the highest productivity growth reported increases in output and 

five showed declines in hours worked. Productivity growth was greatest in florists (+22.5 percent) where 

there was strong growth in output and a significant decline in hours worked. 

Among the 6 four-digit NAICS industries with the largest declines in productivity, output decreased in 

five and hours worked increased in all six. The two industries with the greatest decreases in productivity 

were furniture stores (−12.1 percent) and automobile dealers (−12.0 percent). (See table 1.) 
Labor Productivity Rose in Nearly Half of the Three-Digit NAICS Industries in 2022 

Productivity increased in 7 of the 15 three-digit NAICS industries studied in 2022. (See table 1.) The 

only industry with a double-digit gain was nonstore retailers (+11.1 percent). The next largest increases 

occurred in miscellaneous store retailers (+7.9 percent) and general merchandise stores (+5.3 percent). 

Both motor vehicle and parts dealers and furniture and home furnishings stores had the largest 

productivity decline (−10.9 percent each). (See chart 2). 

Chart 2. Productivity change in three-digit NAICS wholesale and retail trade industries, 2022 

2
In wholesale trade, productivity fell 1.2 percent as output growth (+1.6 percent) was slower than

growth in hours worked (+2.9 percent).

• Productivity increased in only 6 of the 19 four-digit NAICS wholesale trade industries while 

output rose in 11 industries and hours worked grew in 17. 

• Productivity rose 0.1 percent in durable goods wholesalers and fell 1.8 percent in nondurable 

goods wholesalers. 

• The highest increase in productivity occurred in lumber and construction supply merchant 

wholesalers (+17.2 percent) as output rose at a much faster rate (+24.6 percent) than hours 

worked (+6.4 percent).

In retail trade, productivity decreased 0.4 percent as output declined (−1.3 percent) slightly faster than 

hours worked (−1.0 percent). 

• Productivity increased in only 10 of the 27 four-digit NAICS retail trade industries while output 

grew in 12 industries and hours worked rose in 14. 

• Florists saw the largest productivity increase (+22.5 percent) as output increased 8.3 percent

while hours fell 11.6 percent. 

• For the largest 10 industries in retail by employment, productivity increased in 4, output 

increased in 3, and worker hours grew in 5. 

• In grocery stores (the largest retail employer) hours worked rose 0.1 percent while output 

decreased 1.0 percent, leading to a productivity decrease of 1.1 percent.

Unit Labor Costs Rise in Most Trade Industries in 2022 

When hourly compensation outpaces productivity gains, unit labor costs grow. 

• Unit labor costs rose in 14 of 15 three-digit NAICS wholesale and retail trade industries in 2022; 

electronics and appliance stores declined 1.4 percent. (See chart 3.) 

• The largest increase in unit labor costs occurred in motor vehicle and parts dealers (+17.5 

percent) in which hourly compensation grew 4.7 percent while productivity fell 10.9 percent. 

• Among four-digit NAICS industries, unit labor costs rose in 18 of 19 wholesale trade industries, 

and in 23 of 27 retail trade industries. 

• Hourly compensation rose in 42 of the 46 four-digit NAICS industries. 

3
Chart 3. Unit labor costs, productivity, and hourly compensation in three-digit NAICS wholesale and retail 

trade industries, 2022 

2019 to 2022 Trends

Output increased in 31 of the 46 four-digit trade industries from 2019 to 2022. (See table 3.) Note that 

the percent changes for periods of more than one year are annual percent changes. The two industries 

with the highest increases during that period were electronic shopping and mail-order houses (+18.1 

percent per year) and jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores (+11.3 percent). The steepest annual 

declines in output during this period were shared between vending machine operators and petroleum 

merchant wholesalers (−6.8 percent each). 

Hours worked decreased in 28 of the 46 four-digit trade industries from 2019 to 2022. The two 

industries with the largest decreases in hours worked over the 3 years were jewelry, luggage, and leather 

goods stores (−8.5 percent per year) and direct selling establishments (−7.1 percent). The industry with 

the largest increase in hours worked during this period was electronic shopping and mail-order houses 

(+4.2 percent). 

4
Long-term Labor Productivity Increases in All but One Industry

From 1987 to 2022, labor productivity increased 2.5 percent per year in wholesale trade and 3.2 

percent per year in retail trade. (See table 2.)

• Among the 46 four-digit NAICS industries, productivity rose in all but one industry, metal and 

mineral merchant wholesalers. 

• Of the 45 four-digit NAICS industries with increasing productivity growth, 40 experienced rising 

output while 20 had increases in hours worked. 

• Median productivity among four-digit NAICS industries grew at an annual rate of 2.0 percent.

• Among subperiods, productivity growth in wholesale durable, wholesale nondurable, and retail 

trade industries was slower from 2007 to 2019 than during the years preceding and following. 

The productivity growth in retail trade and wholesale nondurable goods industries was fastest in 

the 2019-22 period. (See chart 4). 

• Productivity grew in 43 of the 46 four-digit NAICS industries during the 1987-2007 period. The 

number of industries fell to 33 from 2007 to 2019 and then rose to 36 from 2019 to 2022. 

Long-term Trends in Unit Labor Costs Vary by Sector

From 1987 to 2022, unit labor costs increased 1.5 percent per year in wholesale trade and 0.3 percent

per year in retail trade. (See table 2.)

• Among the 46 four-digit NAICS industries, unit labor costs rose in 17 of 19 wholesale trade and 

14 of 27 retail trade industries from 1987 to 2022. 

• Across sub-periods, unit labor costs rose in 29 industries in 1987-2007, 34 in 2007-19, and 40 

industries in 2019-22. 

• In all three periods, unit labor costs remained positive for both wholesale durable and nondurable 

goods. In retail trade, unit labor costs were slightly positive from 1987 to 2007, were unchanged 

from 2007 to 2019, and rose 3.3 percent per year from 2019 to 2022.

5
Chart 4. Long-term changes in productivity and unit labor costs for wholesale trade durable and 

nondurable goods industry groups and retail trade industry 

6
Additional Information

The trade measures in this release incorporate 2017 Economic Census data and benchmark data from the 

Census Bureau’s Annual Wholesale Trade Report (December 2022), Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey 

(May 2023), Annual Retail Trade Survey (December 2022), and Annual Revision of the Monthly Retail 

and Food Services: Sales and Inventories (April 2023). Accordingly, the labor productivity and output 

series for all industries have been revised for 2021 and earlier years. Additionally, the unit labor cost 

measures incorporate preliminary data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(March 2023). 

Measures of hours worked for all industries reflect a change in methods and are revised historically. The 

new method of determining hours worked uses all-employee hours data from the BLS Current 

Employment Statistics (CES) survey as the main source of data. This is an improvement upon the prior 

method which instead used the CES production worker hours data. Another improvement is the use of 

BLS Current Population Survey (CPS) data to adjust CES all-employee hours paid to account for hours 

worked but not paid, also known as off-the-clock hours. Hours worked data also now incorporate allemployee based hours-worked-to-hours-paid ratios from the National Compensation Survey, rather than 

ratios based only on production workers. For more information on the new hours worked method, see 

www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2022/article/improving-estimates-of-hours-worked-for-us-productivitymeasurement.htm. 

More information about the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) can be found at 

www.census.gov/naics/. 

Access the productivity data dashboard at www.bls.gov/productivity/tables/labor-productivity-detailedindustries.xlsx for 

• Additional industries and sectors 

• Detailed data series: indexes of productivity and related measures; rates of change; and levels of 

industry employment, hours worked, nominal value of production, and labor compensation 

• Additional years and long-term data

Subscribe to productivity news releases on the BLS website at 

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOLBLS/subscriber/new. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

7
Technical Note

Labor Productivity: Labor productivity describes the relationship between output and the labor hours 

involved in its production. These measures show the changes from period to period in the amount of 

goods and services produced per hour worked. Although the labor productivity measures relate real 

output in an industry to hours worked of all persons in that industry, they do not measure the specific 

contribution of labor to growth in output. Rather, they reflect the joint effects of many influences, 

including: changes in technology; capital investment; utilization of capacity, energy, and materials; the 

use of purchased services inputs, including contract employment services; the organization of 

production; the characteristics and effort of the workforce; and managerial skill. 

Unit Labor Costs: Unit labor costs represent the cost of labor required to produce one unit of output. 

The unit labor cost indexes are computed by dividing an index of nominal industry labor compensation 

by an index of real industry output. Unit labor costs also describe the relationship between compensation 

per hour worked (hourly compensation) and real output per hour worked (labor productivity). When 

hourly compensation growth outpaces productivity, unit labor costs increase. Alternatively, when 

productivity growth exceeds hourly compensation, unit labor costs decrease. 

Output: Industry output is measured as an annual-weighted index of the changes in the various products 

(in real terms) provided for sale outside the industry. Real industry output for data in this release is 

derived by deflating nominal sales or values of production using price indexes. Industry output measures 

are constructed primarily using data from the economic censuses and annual surveys of the U.S. Census 

Bureau and U.S. Department of Commerce, together with information on price changes from BLS. 

Labor Hours: Labor hours are measured as annual hours worked by all employed persons in an 

industry. This includes hours worked for pay as well as uncompensated work time. Data on industry 

employment and hours come primarily from the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey and 

Current Population Survey (CPS). CES data on the number of jobs held by wage and salary workers in 

nonfarm establishments are supplemented with CPS data on self-employed and unpaid family workers 

to estimate industry employment. Hours worked estimates are derived using CES and CPS employment, 

CES data on the average weekly hours paid of all employees, CPS data on hours of self-employed and 

unpaid family workers, and ratios of hours worked to hours paid based on data from both the CPS and 

the National Compensation Survey (NCS). For some industries, employment and hours data are 

supplemented or further disaggregated using data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and 

Wages (QCEW), the Census Bureau, or other sources. Hours worked are estimated separately for 

different types of workers and then are directly aggregated; no adjustments for labor composition are 

made.

Labor Compensation: Labor compensation, defined as payroll plus supplemental payments, is a 

measure of the cost to the employer of securing the services of labor. Payroll includes salaries, wages, 

commissions, dismissal pay, bonuses, vacation and sick leave pay, and compensation in kind. 

Supplemental payments include both legally required expenditures and payments for voluntary 

programs. The legally required portion consists primarily of federal old age and survivors’ insurance, 

unemployment compensation, and workers’ compensation. Payments for voluntary programs include all 

programs not specifically required by legislation, such as the employer portion of private health 

insurance and pension plans. Industry compensation measures are constructed primarily using data from 

the BLS QCEW and the economic censuses of the Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce.

8
Annual Percent Change: The annual percent change is the compound annual growth rate in an index 

series over a period of more than one year. The change of an index series varies from year to year. 

However, the annual percent change is the constant rate that can be applied to each year in a period,

from the start to the end, that would give the same total result. It is calculated as (Ending Value/Starting 

Value)^(1/Number of Years)-1. 

9
Table 1. Recent labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

Wholesale trade................................................................ 42 6,060.4 -1.2 10.3 1.6 2.9 12.1 9.0

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods........................... 423 3,328.0 0.1 8.7 4.1 4.1 13.2 8.8

Motor vehicles and parts............................................. 4231 368.1 0.6 7.7 6.3 5.7 14.4 8.3

Furniture and furnishings............................................. 4232 119.0 4.4 3.8 5.8 1.3 9.8 8.3

Lumber and construction supplies.............................. 4233 259.7 17.2 -7.8 24.6 6.4 14.9 8.0

Commercial equipment............................................... 4234 734.5 -1.9 9.0 1.8 3.8 11.0 7.0

Metals and minerals.................................................... 4235 132.4 -1.1 17.8 2.8 3.9 21.1 16.5

Appliances and electric goods.................................... 4236 359.3 -0.2 11.2 1.9 2.1 13.3 10.9

Hardware and plumbing.............................................. 4237 306.3 -0.8 11.5 2.7 3.5 14.5 10.6

Machinery and supplies............................................... 4238 725.7 -0.8 10.6 3.7 4.4 14.6 9.7

Miscellaneous durable goods...................................... 4239 323.0 -7.2 15.4 -3.7 3.7 11.1 7.1

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods..................... 424 2,206.5 -1.8 10.7 -0.4 1.4 10.2 8.6

Paper and paper products........................................... 4241 121.4 -6.8 18.1 -0.8 6.5 17.2 10.0

Druggists' goods......................................................... 4242 259.7 7.0 0.5 9.4 2.2 9.9 7.6

Apparel and piece goods............................................ 4243 151.6 -6.6 11.8 -1.9 5.0 9.7 4.4

Grocery and related products...................................... 4244 803.4 -2.2 11.0 -0.8 1.4 10.1 8.6

Farm product raw materials......................................... 4245 75.3 1.4 7.9 5.1 3.7 13.4 9.4

Chemicals.................................................................... 4246 149.1 9.5 1.8 5.9 -3.2 7.8 11.4

Petroleum.................................................................... 4247 99.6 -9.5 19.5 -7.6 2.1 10.4 8.1

Alcoholic beverages.................................................... 4248 206.9 -3.8 12.8 -2.5 1.4 10.0 8.4

Miscellaneous nondurable goods................................ 4249 339.5 -4.8 15.9 -5.6 -0.8 9.4 10.3

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................... 425 525.9 -3.3 14.9 -2.0 1.4 12.6 11.0

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................ 4251 525.9 -3.3 14.9 -2.0 1.4 12.6 11.0

Retail trade........................................................................ 44-45 16,197.4 -0.4 7.8 -1.3 -1.0 6.4 7.4

Motor vehicle and parts dealers..................................... 441 2,055.7 -10.9 17.5 -8.0 3.3 8.1 4.7

Automobile dealers...................................................... 4411 1,292.7 -12.0 21.7 -8.8 3.6 11.0 7.1

Other motor vehicle dealers........................................ 4412 175.5 -6.9 2.5 -4.3 2.8 -1.9 -4.6

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores...................... 4413 587.5 -4.5 2.8 -1.9 2.7 0.9 -1.8

Furniture and home furnishings stores........................... 442 479.6 -10.9 16.7 -9.4 1.6 5.7 4.0

Furniture stores........................................................... 4421 232.8 -12.1 11.0 -9.9 2.6 0.0 -2.5

Home furnishings stores.............................................. 4422 246.8 -9.3 23.3 -8.9 0.5 12.4 11.8

Electronics and appliance stores................................... 443 451.1 2.5 -1.4 0.7 -1.8 -0.7 1.1

Electronics and appliance stores................................. 4431 451.1 2.5 -1.4 0.7 -1.8 -0.7 1.1

Building material and garden supply stores................... 444 1,456.7 -1.4 4.9 -4.2 -2.8 0.5 3.4

Building material and supplies dealers........................ 4441 1,252.8 -1.4 4.6 -4.1 -2.7 0.3 3.1

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores....... 4442 203.9 -1.4 6.7 -4.8 -3.4 1.6 5.2

Food and beverage stores............................................. 445 3,203.4 -1.8 7.8 -1.3 0.5 6.3 5.8

Grocery stores............................................................. 4451 2,771.9 -1.1 7.7 -1.0 0.1 6.6 6.5

Specialty food stores................................................... 4452 236.8 -5.1 10.7 -7.3 -2.4 2.6 5.1

Beer, wine and liquor stores........................................ 4453 194.7 -11.8 10.2 -2.6 10.5 7.3 -2.9

Health and personal care stores.................................... 446 1,088.9 0.3 1.5 0.3 0.0 1.8 1.7

Health and personal care stores.................................. 4461 1,088.9 0.3 1.5 0.3 0.0 1.8 1.7

Gasoline stations............................................................ 447 974.7 -1.5 11.2 1.7 3.3 13.2 9.5

Gasoline stations......................................................... 4471 974.7 -1.5 11.2 1.7 3.3 13.2 9.5

Clothing and clothing accessories stores...................... 448 1,160.8 3.6 8.8 0.9 -2.6 9.8 12.7

Clothing stores............................................................ 4481 844.5 2.2 15.2 2.0 -0.2 17.5 17.8

Shoe stores................................................................. 4482 175.3 -6.3 11.6 -4.8 1.6 6.3 4.6

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores................ 4483 141.0 20.4 -9.6 0.8 -16.3 -8.8 8.9

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores............ 451 601.0 -6.8 14.4 -4.9 2.1 8.8 6.6

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores........... 4511 524.8 -6.5 11.8 -5.4 1.2 5.8 4.5

Book stores and news dealers.................................... 4512 76.2 -7.1 34.5 1.1 8.8 36.0 25.0

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Percent change, 2021-2022

10
Table 1. Recent labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data – Continued

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

General merchandise stores.......................................... 452 3,074.6 5.3 5.7 -0.9 -5.8 4.8 11.2

Department stores....................................................... 4522 949.5 2.3 5.1 -2.5 -4.8 2.4 7.5

Other general merchandise stores............................... 4523 2,125.1 6.1 6.3 -0.5 -6.2 5.7 12.8

Miscellaneous store retailers.......................................... 453 929.2 7.9 3.1 4.1 -3.5 7.3 11.2

Florists......................................................................... 4531 74.1 22.5 -18.0 8.3 -11.6 -11.1 0.5

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores................... 4532 221.3 -6.2 16.7 -1.7 4.8 14.8 9.5

Used merchandise stores............................................ 4533 235.2 -1.3 4.5 3.7 5.0 8.3 3.1

Other miscellaneous store retailers............................. 4539 398.6 17.2 0.9 5.6 -9.9 6.6 18.3

Nonstore retailers........................................................... 454 721.7 11.1 5.3 6.3 -4.3 11.9 17.0

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses................ 4541 504.9 9.9 7.6 6.8 -2.8 15.0 18.3

Vending machine operators......................................... 4542 43.8 -11.6 23.5 8.2 22.4 33.6 9.2

Direct selling establishments....................................... 4543 173.0 16.2 -4.7 1.0 -13.1 -3.7 10.8

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Percent change, 2021-2022

11
Table 2. Long run labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

Wholesale trade................................................................ 42 6,060.4 2.5 1.5 2.8 0.3 4.3 4.0

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods........................... 423 3,328.0 3.9 0.2 4.1 0.2 4.3 4.1

Motor vehicles and parts............................................. 4231 368.1 2.9 1.0 2.9 0.0 3.9 4.0

Furniture and furnishings............................................. 4232 119.0 2.0 2.1 1.9 -0.1 4.0 4.1

Lumber and construction supplies.............................. 4233 259.7 1.0 2.0 1.9 0.9 3.9 3.0

Commercial equipment............................................... 4234 734.5 10.3 -5.5 10.7 0.3 4.6 4.3

Metals and minerals.................................................... 4235 132.4 -0.5 4.5 -0.4 0.1 4.1 3.9

Appliances and electric goods.................................... 4236 359.3 6.7 -2.0 6.4 -0.3 4.3 4.6

Hardware and plumbing.............................................. 4237 306.3 1.6 2.2 2.6 1.0 4.9 3.8

Machinery and supplies............................................... 4238 725.7 1.6 2.4 1.7 0.1 4.2 4.1

Miscellaneous durable goods...................................... 4239 323.0 1.6 2.5 2.1 0.5 4.6 4.1

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods..................... 424 2,206.5 1.1 3.0 1.2 0.1 4.2 4.1

Paper and paper products........................................... 4241 121.4 1.2 2.7 0.2 -1.0 2.9 3.9

Druggists' goods......................................................... 4242 259.7 2.0 3.8 3.3 1.3 7.3 5.9

Apparel and piece goods............................................ 4243 151.6 1.4 2.1 1.0 -0.4 3.2 3.6

Grocery and related products...................................... 4244 803.4 1.0 2.6 1.5 0.5 4.2 3.6

Farm product raw materials......................................... 4245 75.3 1.1 3.8 -0.5 -1.6 3.3 5.0

Chemicals.................................................................... 4246 149.1 0.5 3.3 0.8 0.3 4.2 3.9

Petroleum.................................................................... 4247 99.6 1.6 3.0 0.4 -1.2 3.3 4.6

Alcoholic beverages.................................................... 4248 206.9 0.9 2.6 2.3 1.4 5.0 3.5

Miscellaneous nondurable goods................................ 4249 339.5 0.3 3.4 -0.1 -0.4 3.3 3.7

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................... 425 525.9 1.4 1.4 2.6 1.2 4.0 2.8

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................ 4251 525.9 1.4 1.4 2.6 1.2 4.0 2.8

Retail trade........................................................................ 44-45 16,197.4 3.2 0.3 3.3 0.1 3.6 3.5

Motor vehicle and parts dealers..................................... 441 2,055.7 2.0 1.5 2.7 0.6 4.2 3.6

Automobile dealers...................................................... 4411 1,292.7 2.1 1.7 2.7 0.6 4.4 3.8

Other motor vehicle dealers........................................ 4412 175.5 2.5 1.3 3.8 1.2 5.1 3.8

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores...................... 4413 587.5 1.3 1.4 1.9 0.6 3.3 2.7

Furniture and home furnishings stores........................... 442 479.6 3.6 -0.3 3.3 -0.3 3.0 3.3

Furniture stores........................................................... 4421 232.8 3.3 -0.2 3.0 -0.3 2.7 3.0

Home furnishings stores.............................................. 4422 246.8 4.1 -0.5 3.8 -0.3 3.3 3.6

Electronics and appliance stores................................... 443 451.1 10.3 -6.3 9.9 -0.4 2.9 3.3

Electronics and appliance stores................................. 4431 451.1 10.3 -6.3 9.9 -0.4 2.9 3.3

Building material and garden supply stores................... 444 1,456.7 2.5 0.5 3.0 0.6 3.6 3.0

Building material and supplies dealers........................ 4441 1,252.8 2.4 0.6 3.0 0.6 3.6 3.0

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores....... 4442 203.9 2.9 -0.2 3.2 0.2 3.0 2.7

Food and beverage stores............................................. 445 3,203.4 0.9 2.3 0.8 0.0 3.1 3.2

Grocery stores............................................................. 4451 2,771.9 0.7 2.5 0.8 0.0 3.3 3.3

Specialty food stores................................................... 4452 236.8 0.5 2.1 -0.3 -0.8 1.8 2.6

Beer, wine and liquor stores........................................ 4453 194.7 2.1 0.9 1.7 -0.4 2.6 3.0

Health and personal care stores.................................... 446 1,088.9 2.1 1.3 2.8 0.7 4.1 3.4

Health and personal care stores.................................. 4461 1,088.9 2.1 1.3 2.8 0.7 4.1 3.4

Gasoline stations............................................................ 447 974.7 1.2 2.2 1.1 -0.1 3.3 3.4

Gasoline stations......................................................... 4471 974.7 1.2 2.2 1.1 -0.1 3.3 3.4

Clothing and clothing accessories stores...................... 448 1,160.8 4.5 -1.1 3.6 -0.9 2.5 3.4

Clothing stores............................................................ 4481 844.5 4.7 -1.3 4.0 -0.7 2.6 3.4

Shoe stores................................................................. 4482 175.3 3.2 -0.3 2.2 -0.9 1.9 2.8

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores................ 4483 141.0 4.7 -0.6 3.2 -1.4 2.5 4.0

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores............ 451 601.0 3.9 -0.4 3.8 -0.1 3.3 3.5

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores........... 4511 524.8 4.7 -1.0 4.7 0.0 3.7 3.6

Book stores and news dealers.................................... 4512 76.2 0.7 2.3 -0.6 -1.3 1.7 3.0

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Annual percent change, 1987-2022

12
Table 2. Long run labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data – Continued

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

General merchandise stores.......................................... 452 3,074.6 3.5 -0.3 4.0 0.4 3.6 3.2

Department stores....................................................... 4522 949.5 1.4 1.1 0.2 -1.2 1.2 2.5

Other general merchandise stores............................... 4523 2,125.1 5.1 -1.2 6.9 1.7 5.6 3.9

Miscellaneous store retailers.......................................... 453 929.2 3.7 -0.6 3.3 -0.4 2.7 3.1

Florists......................................................................... 4531 74.1 3.1 0.2 0.2 -2.8 0.5 3.3

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores................... 4532 221.3 5.3 -1.9 3.2 -2.0 1.2 3.3

Used merchandise stores............................................ 4533 235.2 4.5 -1.7 5.9 1.4 4.1 2.7

Other miscellaneous store retailers............................. 4539 398.6 2.0 0.7 2.9 0.9 3.6 2.7

Nonstore retailers........................................................... 454 721.7 9.1 -3.8 9.6 0.5 5.4 5.0

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses................ 4541 504.9 10.5 -4.6 14.3 3.4 9.1 5.5

Vending machine operators......................................... 4542 43.8 0.6 3.2 -2.0 -2.5 1.1 3.8

Direct selling establishments....................................... 4543 173.0 3.5 -0.1 1.5 -2.0 1.4 3.4

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Annual percent change, 1987-2022

13
Table 3. Labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data, 2019-2022

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

Wholesale trade................................................................ 42 6,060.4 1.2 5.9 1.1 -0.1 7.1 7.2

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods........................... 423 3,328.0 2.4 4.7 2.8 0.5 7.6 7.1

Motor vehicles and parts............................................. 4231 368.1 -0.3 7.0 0.3 0.6 7.3 6.7

Furniture and furnishings............................................. 4232 119.0 4.4 0.9 3.4 -1.0 4.4 5.4

Lumber and construction supplies.............................. 4233 259.7 4.8 2.3 6.7 1.8 9.1 7.2

Commercial equipment............................................... 4234 734.5 3.2 3.3 4.5 1.2 8.0 6.7

Metals and minerals.................................................... 4235 132.4 -2.5 12.8 -4.1 -1.6 8.2 10.0

Appliances and electric goods.................................... 4236 359.3 5.8 1.6 5.3 -0.5 7.0 7.5

Hardware and plumbing.............................................. 4237 306.3 3.1 4.8 4.4 1.3 9.4 8.0

Machinery and supplies............................................... 4238 725.7 0.6 5.6 0.7 0.1 6.3 6.2

Miscellaneous durable goods...................................... 4239 323.0 7.8 1.3 7.9 0.1 9.2 9.2

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods..................... 424 2,206.5 1.2 6.2 0.1 -1.0 6.3 7.4

Paper and paper products........................................... 4241 121.4 1.1 6.6 -1.7 -2.8 4.8 7.8

Druggists' goods......................................................... 4242 259.7 4.5 1.8 6.8 2.2 8.7 6.3

Apparel and piece goods............................................ 4243 151.6 -2.1 7.8 -2.4 -0.3 5.2 5.5

Grocery and related products...................................... 4244 803.4 1.8 5.5 0.5 -1.3 6.1 7.5

Farm product raw materials......................................... 4245 75.3 -3.4 7.5 -1.0 2.4 6.4 3.9

Chemicals.................................................................... 4246 149.1 4.3 3.6 1.3 -2.9 4.9 8.0

Petroleum.................................................................... 4247 99.6 -5.9 10.0 -6.8 -0.9 2.5 3.5

Alcoholic beverages.................................................... 4248 206.9 6.3 1.1 4.3 -1.9 5.5 7.5

Miscellaneous nondurable goods................................ 4249 339.5 1.2 8.3 -0.4 -1.6 7.8 9.6

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................... 425 525.9 -3.8 11.1 -4.1 -0.3 6.5 6.9

Electronic markets and agents and brokers................ 4251 525.9 -3.8 11.1 -4.1 -0.3 6.5 6.9

Retail trade........................................................................ 44-45 16,197.4 4.8 3.3 3.9 -0.9 7.4 8.3

Motor vehicle and parts dealers..................................... 441 2,055.7 -0.1 11.1 -0.7 -0.6 10.4 11.1

Automobile dealers...................................................... 4411 1,292.7 -0.4 13.8 -1.6 -1.2 12.0 13.4

Other motor vehicle dealers........................................ 4412 175.5 6.3 2.1 6.6 0.3 8.9 8.5

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores...................... 4413 587.5 2.5 1.5 2.8 0.3 4.3 4.0

Furniture and home furnishings stores........................... 442 479.6 1.1 7.1 0.0 -1.1 7.1 8.2

Furniture stores........................................................... 4421 232.8 1.3 4.7 0.9 -0.4 5.7 6.1

Home furnishings stores.............................................. 4422 246.8 0.7 9.8 -1.1 -1.8 8.6 10.6

Electronics and appliance stores................................... 443 451.1 5.6 1.2 1.8 -3.6 3.1 6.9

Electronics and appliance stores................................. 4431 451.1 5.6 1.2 1.8 -3.6 3.1 6.9

Building material and garden supply stores................... 444 1,456.7 1.5 4.5 2.7 1.2 7.4 6.1

Building material and supplies dealers........................ 4441 1,252.8 1.8 4.8 2.2 0.4 7.1 6.7

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores....... 4442 203.9 0.3 2.9 6.2 5.9 9.3 3.2

Food and beverage stores............................................. 445 3,203.4 1.6 4.3 2.1 0.5 6.5 6.0

Grocery stores............................................................. 4451 2,771.9 1.5 4.4 2.0 0.5 6.6 6.0

Specialty food stores................................................... 4452 236.8 0.3 6.5 -0.9 -1.3 5.5 6.9

Beer, wine and liquor stores........................................ 4453 194.7 2.6 1.8 4.8 2.1 6.7 4.5

Health and personal care stores.................................... 446 1,088.9 5.0 -1.5 4.4 -0.6 2.8 3.5

Health and personal care stores.................................. 4461 1,088.9 5.0 -1.5 4.4 -0.6 2.8 3.5

Gasoline stations............................................................ 447 974.7 -0.3 8.6 0.4 0.7 9.0 8.2

Gasoline stations......................................................... 4471 974.7 -0.3 8.6 0.4 0.7 9.0 8.2

Clothing and clothing accessories stores...................... 448 1,160.8 10.0 -1.3 3.7 -5.7 2.3 8.6

Clothing stores............................................................ 4481 844.5 8.4 -0.9 3.1 -4.9 2.2 7.4

Shoe stores................................................................. 4482 175.3 6.5 2.8 -0.7 -6.8 2.1 9.5

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores................ 4483 141.0 21.6 -7.4 11.3 -8.5 3.1 12.6

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores............ 451 601.0 7.3 0.9 6.2 -1.0 7.2 8.3

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores........... 4511 524.8 8.3 -0.1 7.4 -0.8 7.3 8.2

Book stores and news dealers.................................... 4512 76.2 -1.7 10.5 -3.6 -2.0 6.5 8.7

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Annual percent change, 2019-2022

14
Table 3. Labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data, 2019-2022 – Continued

Labor 

productivity

Unit 

labor 

costs

Output Hours 

worked

Labor 

compensation

Hourly 

compensation

General merchandise stores.......................................... 452 3,074.6 4.1 3.6 2.6 -1.5 6.3 7.8

Department stores....................................................... 4522 949.5 5.1 1.6 -0.5 -5.3 1.2 6.8

Other general merchandise stores............................... 4523 2,125.1 2.8 5.1 3.2 0.4 8.5 8.0

Miscellaneous store retailers.......................................... 453 929.2 8.9 0.6 6.2 -2.5 6.8 9.5

Florists......................................................................... 4531 74.1 7.2 0.6 6.0 -1.0 6.6 7.8

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores................... 4532 221.3 4.7 3.0 -1.5 -5.9 1.5 7.8

Used merchandise stores............................................ 4533 235.2 5.0 0.2 7.9 2.7 8.1 5.2

Other miscellaneous store retailers............................. 4539 398.6 12.5 0.4 8.4 -3.6 8.9 13.0

Nonstore retailers........................................................... 454 721.7 16.1 -3.1 16.4 0.3 12.7 12.4

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses................ 4541 504.9 13.4 -1.6 18.1 4.2 16.2 11.6

Vending machine operators......................................... 4542 43.8 0.0 6.3 -6.8 -6.8 -0.9 6.3

Direct selling establishments....................................... 4543 173.0 11.0 -1.5 3.0 -7.1 1.5 9.3

Industry

2017 

NAICS 

code

2022 

Employment 

(thousands)

Annual percent change, 2019-2022

15