Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL 24-0147

8:30 a.m. (ET) Thursday, February 1, 2024

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

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

PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS

Fourth Quarter and Annual Averages 2023, Preliminary

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 3.7 percent and hours worked 

increased 0.4 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)

From the same quarter a year ago, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 2.7 percent. (See

chart 1 and table A1.) Annual average productivity increased 1.2 percent from 2022 to 2023. (See table 

C1.) 

Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023,

reflecting a 3.7-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 3.2-percent increase in productivity. Unit 

labor costs increased 2.3 percent over the last four quarters. (See chart 2 and tables A1 and 2.) 

BLS calculates unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity. Increases in 

hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor costs and increases in productivity tend to reduce them.

Real hourly compensation, which takes into account consumer prices, increased 0.9 percent in the fourth 

quarter of 2023, and increased 1.8 percent over the last four quarters.

Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of 

hours worked by all workers, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. During the 

current business cycle, starting in the fourth quarter of 2019, labor productivity has grown at an annual 

rate of 1.6 percent, as output grew at a 2.2-percent per year rate, outpacing hours worked, which grew at 

a 0.7-percent annual rate. (See chart 3.) The 1.6-percent annual rate of productivity growth in the current 
 -2-

business cycle thus far is just 0.1-percentage point above the previous business cycle rate from the 

fourth quarter of 2007 through fourth-quarter 2019, and is below the long-term rate since the first 

quarter of 1947 (2.1 percent).

Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, as output 

decreased 2.4 percent and hours worked decreased 4.6 percent. The 4.6-percent decrease in hours 

worked is the largest decline since the historic decline in the second quarter of 2020. In the durable 

manufacturing sector, productivity increased 1.4 percent, reflecting a 4.4-percent decrease in output and 

a 5.7-percent decrease in hours worked. Nondurable manufacturing sector productivity increased 2.5

percent, as output decreased 0.3 percent and hours worked decreased 2.7 percent. Total manufacturing 

sector productivity increased 0.7 percent from the same quarter a year ago. (See tables A1, 3, 4, and 5.)

Unit labor costs in the total manufacturing sector increased 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, 

reflecting a 6.6-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 2.3-percent increase in productivity. 

Manufacturing unit labor costs increased 5.4 percent from the same quarter a year ago. (See tables A1 

and 3.)
 -3-

Manufacturing sector labor productivity has increased at an annual rate of 0.2 percent during the current 

business cycle, which began in the fourth quarter of 2019. This rate reflects a 0.1-percent growth rate for 

output and a 0.2-percent rate of decline for hours worked. (See chart 4.) This slow productivity growth 

rate follows the 0.0-percent annual rate of growth during the last business cycle that spanned the fourth 

quarter of 2007 through fourth-quarter 2019, and is below the long-term rate since the first quarter of 

1987 of 2.1 percent.

The concepts, sources, and methods used for the manufacturing output series differ from those used in 

the business and nonfarm business output series; these output measures are not directly comparable. See 

the Technical Notes for a more detailed explanation. (See page 7.)

Revised measures

Revised and previously published measures for the third quarter of 2023 are shown in tables A2 and 

B1 and cover the following major sectors: nonfarm business, business, manufacturing, and nonfinancial 

corporations.

In the third quarter of 2023, nonfarm business productivity was revised down 0.3 percentage point, to an 

increase of 4.9 percent, due to a 0.3-percentage point downward revision to output. (See table B1.) Unit 

labor costs decreased 1.1 percent in the third quarter, rather than decreasing 1.2 percent as previously 

reported.

In the manufacturing sector, productivity declined 0.8 percent in the third quarter of 2023 as 

previously reported. Unit labor costs were revised upwards 0.1 percentage point to an increase of 6.3 

percent.

As for the nonfinancial corporate sector, productivity was revised up 0.3 percentage point in the third 

quarter of 2023 to an increase of 2.5 percent. This revision reflects a 0.2-percentage point upward 

revision to output to an increase of 3.3 percent. Hours worked were unrevised. (See table A2.)
 -4-

Annual averages

Table C1 presents annual average changes for the most recent 5 years for the nonfarm business sector 

and the total manufacturing sector. Nonfarm business sector productivity increased 1.2 percent in 

2023, as output increased 2.6 percent and hours worked increased 1.3 percent.

Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 2.9 percent in 2023, reflecting an increase of 

4.2 percent in hourly compensation and an increase of 1.2 percent in productivity. Real hourly 

compensation, which takes into account changes in consumer prices, increased 0.1 percent in 2023. 

In the manufacturing sector, productivity decreased 0.8 percent in 2023, reflecting a decrease in output 

of 0.5 percent and an increase in hours of 0.3 percent.

Manufacturing unit labor costs increased 5.5 percent in 2023, as hourly compensation increased 4.7 

percent while productivity decreased 0.8 percent. Manufacturing real hourly compensation increased 0.5 

percent.

Quarterly and annual data for all sectors from 2021 forward appear in tables 1-6. Full historical 

measures can be found on the Productivity and Costs home page: www.bls.gov/productivity/tables/. 

______________ 

The revised Productivity and Costs news release for fourth-quarter and annual averages 2023 is 

scheduled to be released on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. (ET). 

Upcoming Revisions 

Data in this release do not reflect the annual benchmark revision of the BLS Current Employment 

Statistics program data to be released February 2, 2024. This benchmark will be incorporated in the next 

release on March 7, 2024. 

Upcoming Method Change

Beginning with the Productivity and Costs news release scheduled for March 7, 2024, estimates of hours 

worked by self-employed workers and unpaid family workers will reflect a method change to reduce 

volatility of the estimates. Self-employed and unpaid family workers accounted for 7.4 percent of hours 

worked in the nonfarm business sector in 2022. The method change will remove statistically insignificant 

variability during seasonal adjustment of the Current Population Survey (CPS) source data. In addition, 

volatility associated with respondent turnover will be reduced by adjusting respondent weights. These two 

adjustments by the BLS productivity program will dampen noise in the series without losing important 

information about cyclical changes in hours worked by self-employed and unpaid family workers. A more 

detailed discussion of the upcoming changes is available in the Monthly Labor Review at 

www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2023/article/an-improved-estimate-of-self-employment-hours.htm.
-5-

Table A1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - preliminary fourth-quarter 2023

(percent change from previous quarter at annual rate and from same quarter a year ago)

Sector Percent change from:

Labor 

productivity Output

Hours 

worked

Hourly 

compensation

Real hourly 

compensation

Unit labor 

costs

Nonfarm business Previous quarter 3.2 3.7 0.4 3.7 0.9 0.5

A year ago 2.7 3.3 0.6 5.0 1.8 2.3

Business Previous quarter 3.3 3.5 0.2 4.0 1.2 0.6

A year ago 2.7 3.3 0.6 5.0 1.8 2.2

Manufacturing Previous quarter 2.3 -2.4 -4.6 6.6 3.8 4.2

A year ago 0.7 -0.5 -1.2 6.2 2.9 5.4

Durable 

manufacturing

Previous quarter 1.4 -4.4 -5.7 9.0 6.0 7.4

A year ago 0.0 -0.3 -0.3 6.4 3.1 6.4

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Previous quarter 2.5 -0.3 -2.7 2.5 -0.2 0.0

A year ago 2.0 -0.7 -2.7 5.5 2.2 3.4

Table A2. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published third-quarter 2023

(percent change from previous quarter at annual rate)

Sector

Labor 

productivity Output

Hours 

worked

Hourly 

compensation

Real hourly 

compensation

Unit labor 

costs

Nonfinancial 

corporate

Revised 2.5 3.3 0.8 3.7 0.1 1.2

Previously published 2.2 3.1 0.8 3.9 0.3 1.7

Table B1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published third-quarter 2023

(percent change from previous quarter at annual rate)

Sector

Labor 

productivity Output

Hours 

worked

Hourly 

compensation

Real hourly 

compensation

Unit labor 

costs

Nonfarm business Revised 4.9 5.8 0.9 3.8 0.2 -1.1

Previously published 5.2 6.1 0.9 3.9 0.3 -1.2

Business Revised 4.8 5.6 0.7 3.9 0.3 -0.9

Previously published 5.2 6.0 0.8 4.0 0.4 -1.2

Manufacturing Revised -0.8 -0.3 0.5 5.5 1.8 6.3

Previously published -0.8 -0.3 0.5 5.4 1.8 6.2

Durable 

manufacturing

Revised -2.0 1.4 3.4 3.5 -0.1 5.6

Previously published -1.8 1.6 3.4 3.4 -0.2 5.3

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Revised 2.6 -1.9 -4.4 8.7 5.0 6.0

Previously published 2.3 -2.1 -4.2 8.8 5.0 6.4
-6-

Table C1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - annual average changes: 2019-2023

Sector Year

Labor 

productivity Output

Hours 

worked

Hourly 

compensation

Real hourly 

compensation

Unit labor 

costs

Nonfarm business 2023 1.2 2.6 1.3 4.2 0.1 2.9

2022 -1.9 2.1 4.0 3.7 -4.1 5.6

2021 1.7 7.2 5.5 4.9 0.0 3.1

2020 5.2 -2.8 -7.6 8.2 6.7 2.9

2019 2.3 3.0 0.7 3.9 2.1 1.6

Manufacturing 2023 -0.8 -0.5 0.3 4.7 0.5 5.5

2022 -1.3 2.8 4.2 3.5 -4.3 4.8

2021 1.7 4.9 3.2 2.3 -2.4 0.6

2020 0.6 -6.9 -7.4 6.8 5.4 6.2

2019 -2.2 -2.0 0.2 2.5 0.7 4.8
-7-

TECHNICAL NOTES

Labor Hours

Hours worked data for the labor productivity and cost measures include hours worked for all persons 

working in the sector—wage and salary workers, the self-employed and unpaid family workers. The 

primary source of hours and employment data is the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) 

program, which provides monthly survey data on the number of jobs held by and hours paid to wage and 

salary workers in nonfarm establishments, counting a person who is employed by two or more 

establishments at each place of employment. As of the February 3, 2023 Employment Situation release, 

the CES program has updated the national nonfarm payroll series to the 2022 North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS). The BLS Major Sector Productivity program will be remaining on a 

NAICS 2017 basis for the time being by converting NAICS 2022 data from CES back to a NAICS 2017 

basis using ratios published on the CES website and based on the Quarterly Census of Employment and 

Wages (QCEW). Hours of paid time off are removed from hours paid using data from the National 

Compensation Survey (NCS) for 1996 forward and data from the BLS Hours at Work survey, conducted 

for this purpose, prior to 1990. Between 1990 and 1995, hours of paid time off are removed using a 

combination of NCS and Hours at Work survey data. Off-the-clock hours are added, yielding hours 

worked, using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). 

Data from the CPS are used to estimate hours worked for farm labor, nonfarm proprietors, and nonfarm 

unpaid family workers. Using CPS information on employment and hours worked at primary jobs and 

all other jobs, separately, the BLS productivity measures assign all hours worked to the appropriate 

industrial sector. Hours for government enterprises are derived from the CPS, the CES, and the National 

Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the 

Department of Commerce. 

Detailed hours data are presented in the table “Hours Worked in Total U.S. Economy and Subsectors” 

on the BLS website (www.bls.gov/productivity/tables/total-economy-hours-employment.xlsx).

Output

Business sector output is a chain-type, current-weighted index constructed after excluding from gross 

domestic product (GDP) the following outputs: general government, nonprofit institutions, and

households (including owner-occupied housing). Corresponding exclusions also are made in labor hours 

worked. Business output accounted for about 77 percent of the value of GDP in 2023. Nonfarm 

business, which excludes farming, accounted for about 76 percent of GDP in 2023.

Annual indexes for manufacturing and its durable and nondurable goods components are constructed by 

deflating current-dollar industry value of production data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census with 

deflators from the BLS. These deflators are based on data from the BLS Producer Price Index program 

and other sources. The industry shipments are aggregated using annual weights, and intrasectoral

transactions are removed. Quarterly manufacturing output measures are based on the indexes of 

industrial production prepared monthly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 

adjusted to be consistent with annual indexes of manufacturing sector output prepared by BLS. 

Nonfinancial corporate output is a chain-type, current-weighted index calculated on the basis of the 

costs incurred and the incomes earned from production. The output measure excludes the following 

outputs from GDP: general government; nonprofit institutions; households; unincorporated business; 

and those corporations classified as offices of bank holding companies, offices of other holding 

companies, or offices in the finance and insurance sector. Nonfinancial corporations accounted for about 

52 percent of the value of GDP in 2022.
-8-

Labor Productivity

The measure describes the relationship between real output and the labor time involved in its production. 

Measures of labor productivity growth show the changes from period to period in the amount of goods 

and services produced per hour worked. They reflect the joint effects of many influences, including

changes in technology; capital investment; level of output; utilization of capacity, energy, and materials; 

the organization of production; managerial skill; and the characteristics and effort of the work force.

Labor Compensation

The measure includes accrued wages and salaries, supplements, employer contributions to employee 

benefit plans, and taxes. Estimates of labor compensation by major sector, required for measures of 

hourly compensation and unit labor costs, are based primarily on employee compensation data from the 

NIPA, prepared by the BEA. The compensation of employees in general government, nonprofit 

institutions and households are subtracted from compensation of employees in domestic industries to 

derive employee compensation for the business sector. The labor compensation of proprietors cannot be 

explicitly identified and must be estimated. This is done by assuming that proprietors have the same 

hourly compensation as employees in the same sector. The quarterly labor productivity and cost 

measures do not contain estimates of compensation for unpaid family workers. 

Unit Labor Costs

These measures describe the relationship between compensation per hour and labor productivity, or real 

output per hour, and can be used as an indicator of inflationary pressure on producers. Increases in 

hourly compensation increase unit labor costs; labor productivity increases offset compensation 

increases and lower unit labor costs. 

Presentation of the data

The quarterly data in this release are presented in three ways: as percent changes from the previous 

quarter presented at a compound annual rate, as percent changes from the corresponding quarter of the 

previous year, and as index number series where 2017=100. Annual data are presented both as index 

number series and percent changes from the previous year. 

The index numbers and rates of change reported in the productivity and costs news release are rounded 

to one decimal place. All percent changes in this release and on the BLS web site are calculated using 

index numbers to three decimal places. A complete historical series of these index numbers are available 

at the BLS web site, www.bls.gov/data/home.htm, or by contacting the BLS Division of Major Sector 

Productivity (Telephone 202-691-5606 or email productivity@bls.gov).

For a more detailed explanation of methodology see the Handbook of Methods at 

www.bls.gov/opub/hom/msp/home.htm.

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

telecommunications relay services.
-9-

Table 1. Business sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and prices,

seasonally adjusted.

 Value-

 Real added

 Hourly hourly Unit output

Year Labor compen- compen- Unit nonlabor price

and produc- Hours sation sation labor payments deflator

quarter tivity Output worked (1) (2) costs (3) (4)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 ANNUAL 1.3 2.6 1.3 4.2 0.1 2.9 3.6 3.2 

2023 IV 3.3 3.5 0.2 4.0 1.2 0.6 0.9 0.7 

 III 4.8 r 5.6 r 0.7 r 3.9 r 0.3 r -0.9 r 7.8 r 2.8 r

 II 3.4 2.0 -1.4 5.8 3.1 2.4 -0.6 1.1 

 I -0.6 2.1 2.7 6.5 2.7 7.1 -1.3 3.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.8 1.9 3.8 3.8 -4.0 5.7 10.5 7.8 

2022 IV 2.0 2.9 0.9 -0.1 -4.1 -2.0 10.9 3.5 

 III 0.2 2.7 2.5 6.9 1.3 6.7 0.7 4.0 

 II -3.4 -1.3 2.1 1.9 -7.2 5.4 17.2 10.5 

 I -6.7 -3.0 4.0 0.9 -7.7 8.2 11.4 9.6 

2021 ANNUAL 1.8 7.2 5.3 4.9 0.1 3.1 7.9 5.1 

2021 IV 2.8 8.8 5.8 6.1 -2.4 3.2 14.5 8.0 

 III -2.0 3.3 5.4 6.1 -0.5 8.3 4.3 6.6 

 II 1.1 7.2 6.0 7.3 -0.6 6.2 8.7 7.3 

 I 1.9 6.7 4.6 -0.3 -4.5 -2.2 19.9 6.6 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 ANNUAL 1.3 2.6 1.3 4.2 0.1 2.9 3.6 3.2 

2023 IV 2.7 3.3 0.6 5.0 1.8 2.2 1.6 2.0 

 III 2.4 r 3.1 r 0.7 4.0 0.4 r 1.6 r 4.1 r 2.7 

 II 1.2 2.4 1.2 4.8 0.7 3.5 2.3 3.0 

 I -0.5 1.6 2.0 3.8 -1.9 4.2 6.6 5.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.8 1.9 3.8 3.8 -4.0 5.7 10.5 7.8 

2022 IV -2.0 0.3 2.4 2.4 -4.5 4.5 9.9 6.9 

 III -1.8 1.7 3.6 3.9 -4.1 5.9 10.8 8.0 

 II -2.4 1.8 4.3 3.7 -4.5 6.3 11.8 8.6 

 I -1.3 4.0 5.3 5.1 -2.8 6.5 9.7 7.8 

2021 ANNUAL 1.8 7.2 5.3 4.9 0.1 3.1 7.9 5.1 

2021 IV 0.9 6.5 5.5 4.8 -2.0 3.8 11.7 7.1 

 III -0.8 5.6 6.4 5.6 0.2 6.4 4.9 5.8 

 II 1.4 15.2 13.6 2.7 -2.1 1.3 11.1 5.3 

 I 5.7 2.5 -3.1 6.5 4.4 0.8 4.2 2.2 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 ANNUAL 110.3 116.0 105.2 131.8 105.7 119.5 123.9 121.4 

2023 IV 111.9 117.7 105.2 133.9 106.2 119.7 125.2 122.1 

 III 111.0 r 116.7 r 105.1 r 132.6 r 105.9 r 119.5 r 124.9 r 121.9 r

 II 109.7 115.1 104.9 131.4 105.8 119.8 122.6 121.0 

 I 108.8 114.6 105.3 129.5 105.0 119.1 122.8 120.7 

2022 ANNUAL 108.8 113.1 103.9 126.4 105.6 116.2 119.6 117.6 

2022 IV 108.9 114.0 104.6 127.5 104.4 117.0 123.2 119.7 

 III 108.4 113.2 104.4 127.5 105.5 117.6 120.1 118.7 

 II 108.4 112.4 103.7 125.4 105.1 115.7 119.8 117.5 

 I 109.3 112.8 103.2 124.8 107.1 114.2 115.2 114.6 

2021 ANNUAL 110.9 110.9 100.0 121.8 109.9 109.8 108.2 109.1 

2021 IV 111.2 113.6 102.2 124.5 109.3 112.0 112.1 112.0 

 III 110.4 111.3 100.7 122.7 109.9 111.1 108.4 109.9 

 II 111.0 110.4 99.4 120.9 110.1 108.9 107.2 108.2 

 I 110.7 108.5 98.0 118.8 110.2 107.3 105.0 106.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-10-

Table 2. Nonfarm business sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and

prices, seasonally adjusted.

 Value-

 Real added

 Hourly hourly Unit output

Year Labor compen- compen- Unit nonlabor price

and produc- Hours sation sation labor payments deflator

quarter tivity Output worked (1) (2) costs (3) (4)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 ANNUAL 1.2 2.6 1.3 4.2 0.1 2.9 4.0 3.4 

2023 IV 3.2 3.7 0.4 3.7 0.9 0.5 1.3 0.9 

 III 4.9 r 5.8 r 0.9 3.8 r 0.2 r -1.1 r 8.3 r 3.0 r

 II 3.6 2.0 -1.5 6.2 3.4 2.6 -0.1 1.4 

 I -0.8 1.8 2.6 6.5 2.7 7.4 -0.3 3.9 

2022 ANNUAL -1.9 2.1 4.0 3.7 -4.1 5.6 10.1 7.5 

2022 IV 1.6 2.8 1.3 -0.5 -4.5 -2.0 11.0 3.5 

 III 0.4 2.8 2.4 7.1 1.4 6.6 0.6 3.9 

 II -3.6 -1.1 2.6 1.5 -7.6 5.3 16.1 9.9 

 I -6.3 -2.8 3.7 1.1 -7.5 8.0 10.3 9.0 

2021 ANNUAL 1.7 7.2 5.5 4.9 0.0 3.1 7.2 4.8 

2021 IV 2.8 8.9 5.9 6.0 -2.6 3.1 15.8 8.4 

 III -2.4 3.4 5.9 5.6 -0.9 8.2 4.2 6.4 

 II 0.8 7.3 6.4 7.0 -0.8 6.1 6.5 6.3 

 I 1.6 6.5 4.9 -0.4 -4.6 -2.0 19.3 6.5 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 ANNUAL 1.2 2.6 1.3 4.2 0.1 2.9 4.0 3.4 

2023 IV 2.7 3.3 0.6 5.0 1.8 2.3 2.2 2.3 

 III 2.3 r 3.1 r 0.8 4.0 0.4 1.7 r 4.6 r 2.9 r

 II 1.2 2.4 1.2 4.8 0.7 3.6 2.7 3.2 

 I -0.6 1.6 2.2 3.6 -2.1 4.2 6.6 5.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.9 2.1 4.0 3.7 -4.1 5.6 10.1 7.5 

2022 IV -2.0 0.4 2.5 2.3 -4.6 4.4 9.4 6.5 

 III -1.7 1.8 3.6 3.9 -4.1 5.7 10.5 7.8 

 II -2.4 2.0 4.5 3.5 -4.7 6.1 11.5 8.4 

 I -1.3 4.1 5.5 4.9 -3.0 6.3 9.1 7.5 

2021 ANNUAL 1.7 7.2 5.5 4.9 0.0 3.1 7.2 4.8 

2021 IV 0.7 6.5 5.8 4.5 -2.2 3.8 11.3 6.9 

 III -0.8 5.7 6.5 5.6 0.2 6.5 3.9 5.4 

 II 1.1 15.1 13.8 2.5 -2.3 1.4 9.8 4.8 

 I 5.8 2.4 -3.2 6.6 4.5 0.8 4.1 2.2 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 ANNUAL 110.2 116.2 105.5 131.5 105.5 119.4 123.5 121.2 

2023 IV 111.8 117.9 105.5 133.6 106.0 119.6 125.0 121.9 

 III 110.9 r 116.9 r 105.4 r 132.4 r 105.7 r 119.4 r 124.5 r 121.6 r

 II 109.6 115.3 105.2 131.2 105.7 119.7 122.1 120.8 

 I 108.6 114.7 105.6 129.2 104.8 119.0 122.1 120.3 

2022 ANNUAL 108.8 113.3 104.1 126.3 105.4 116.0 118.7 117.2 

2022 IV 108.8 114.2 104.9 127.2 104.1 116.9 122.2 119.2 

 III 108.4 113.4 104.6 127.4 105.3 117.5 119.1 118.2 

 II 108.3 112.6 104.0 125.2 105.0 115.6 118.9 117.0 

 I 109.3 112.9 103.3 124.8 107.0 114.1 114.5 114.3 

2021 ANNUAL 110.9 111.0 100.1 121.8 109.9 109.9 107.8 109.0 

2021 IV 111.1 113.7 102.4 124.4 109.1 112.0 111.8 111.9 

 III 110.3 111.4 100.9 122.6 109.9 111.1 107.7 109.6 

 II 111.0 110.4 99.5 120.9 110.1 109.0 106.6 107.9 

 I 110.8 108.5 98.0 118.9 110.4 107.3 105.0 106.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-11-

Table 3. Manufacturing sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs,

seasonally adjusted.

 Real

Year Labor Hourly hourly Unit

and produc- Hours compensa- compensa- labor

quarter tivity Output worked tion (1) tion (2) costs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 ANNUAL -0.8 -0.5 0.3 4.7 0.5 5.5 

2023 IV 2.3 -2.4 -4.6 6.6 3.8 4.2 

 III -0.8 -0.3 0.5 5.5 r 1.8 6.3 r

 II 3.3 1.1 -2.1 8.1 5.2 4.7 

 I -1.9 -0.4 1.5 4.5 0.8 6.6 

2022 ANNUAL -1.3 2.8 4.2 3.5 -4.3 4.8 

2022 IV -3.2 -3.6 -0.5 -0.1 -4.1 3.2 

 III -2.8 0.4 3.3 7.7 2.0 10.8 

 II 2.2 3.0 0.7 3.2 -6.0 1.0 

 I -3.9 3.1 7.3 0.7 -7.9 4.7 

2021 ANNUAL 1.7 4.9 3.2 2.3 -2.4 0.6 

2021 IV -2.2 4.8 7.2 8.0 -0.7 10.4 

 III -1.9 3.3 5.3 -1.7 -7.8 0.2 

 II 5.5 6.1 0.6 6.1 -1.7 0.6 

 I -1.1 0.2 1.3 -1.3 -5.4 -0.2 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 ANNUAL -0.8 -0.5 0.3 4.7 0.5 5.5 

2023 IV 0.7 -0.5 -1.2 6.2 2.9 5.4 

 III -0.7 -0.8 -0.1 4.5 r 0.9 5.2 

 II -1.2 -0.7 0.5 5.0 0.9 6.3 

 I -1.4 -0.2 1.3 3.8 -1.9 5.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.3 2.8 4.2 3.5 -4.3 4.8 

2022 IV -1.9 0.7 2.7 2.8 -4.1 4.9 

 III -1.7 2.8 4.6 4.8 -3.2 6.6 

 II -1.5 3.6 5.1 2.5 -5.7 4.0 

 I -0.7 4.3 5.0 3.2 -4.6 3.9 

2021 ANNUAL 1.7 4.9 3.2 2.3 -2.4 0.6 

2021 IV 0.0 3.6 3.5 2.7 -4.0 2.6 

 III 0.3 4.2 3.8 2.6 -2.7 2.2 

 II 4.9 15.0 9.6 -0.6 -5.2 -5.2 

 I 1.6 -1.9 -3.5 4.3 2.3 2.6 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 ANNUAL 98.0 99.8 101.8 124.0 99.4 126.5 

2023 IV 98.5 99.3 100.8 126.9 100.6 128.8 

 III 98.0 r 99.9 r 102.0 r 124.9 r 99.7 r 127.5 r

 II 98.1 r 100.0 r 101.9 123.2 99.3 125.6 r

 I 97.4 99.7 102.4 120.9 98.0 124.1 

2022 ANNUAL 98.8 100.3 101.5 118.5 98.9 119.9 

2022 IV 97.8 99.8 102.1 119.5 97.8 122.2 

 III 98.6 100.8 102.2 119.6 98.9 121.2 

 II 99.3 100.7 101.4 117.4 98.4 118.1 

 I 98.8 99.9 101.2 116.4 99.9 117.9 

2021 ANNUAL 100.2 97.5 97.4 114.5 103.3 114.3 

2021 IV 99.8 99.2 99.4 116.2 102.0 116.5 

 III 100.3 98.0 97.7 114.0 102.2 113.7 

 II 100.8 97.2 96.5 114.5 104.3 113.6 

 I 99.4 95.8 96.3 112.8 104.7 113.5 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-12-

Table 4. Durable manufacturing sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor

costs, seasonally adjusted.

 Real

Year Labor Hourly hourly Unit

and produc- Hours compensa- compensa- labor

quarter tivity Output worked tion (1) tion (2) costs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 ANNUAL -1.2 0.2 1.4 4.4 0.3 5.6 

2023 IV 1.4 -4.4 -5.7 9.0 6.0 7.4 

 III -2.0 r 1.4 r 3.4 3.5 r -0.1 r 5.6 r

 II 5.2 3.9 r -1.2 7.8 4.9 2.5 r

 I -4.2 -1.8 2.5 5.6 1.7 10.2 

2022 ANNUAL -1.0 3.6 4.7 2.4 -5.2 3.5 

2022 IV -2.2 -2.7 -0.5 -1.5 -5.5 0.7 

 III -3.7 2.0 5.9 7.5 1.9 11.7 

 II 3.7 5.4 1.6 3.4 -5.8 -0.3 

 I -3.0 5.6 8.9 -1.8 -10.2 1.2 

2021 ANNUAL 0.7 3.8 3.1 3.2 -1.6 2.4 

2021 IV 0.2 5.3 5.1 9.5 0.7 9.3 

 III -3.0 2.7 5.9 -7.4 -13.2 -4.6 

 II -2.6 -2.9 -0.3 9.0 0.9 11.9 

 I -4.4 -0.6 3.9 0.7 -3.5 5.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 ANNUAL -1.2 0.2 1.4 4.4 0.3 5.6 

2023 IV 0.0 -0.3 -0.3 6.4 3.1 6.4 

 III -0.9 r 0.2 1.0 3.8 0.2 4.7 r

 II -1.3 0.3 r 1.7 4.8 0.7 6.2 r

 I -1.6 0.7 2.4 3.7 -2.0 5.4 

2022 ANNUAL -1.0 3.6 4.7 2.4 -5.2 3.5 

2022 IV -1.3 2.5 3.9 1.8 -5.0 3.2 

 III -0.8 4.5 5.3 4.6 -3.5 5.3 

 II -0.6 4.7 5.3 0.7 -7.3 1.3 

 I -2.1 2.6 4.8 2.0 -5.7 4.2 

2021 ANNUAL 0.7 3.8 3.1 3.2 -1.6 2.4 

2021 IV -2.5 1.1 3.6 2.7 -3.9 5.3 

 III -2.7 0.9 3.8 3.4 -1.9 6.2 

 II 6.6 18.0 10.7 0.7 -4.1 -5.6 

 I 2.3 -2.3 -4.5 5.7 3.6 3.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 ANNUAL 96.0 98.2 102.2 123.4 98.9 128.5 

2023 IV 96.4 97.7 101.4 126.5 100.3 131.3 

 III 96.0 r 98.8 r 102.9 r 123.8 r 98.9 r 128.9 r

 II 96.5 r 98.5 r 102.1 122.8 98.9 127.2 r

 I 95.3 97.6 102.4 120.5 97.7 126.4 

2022 ANNUAL 97.2 97.9 100.8 118.2 98.7 121.6 

2022 IV 96.3 98.0 101.8 118.9 97.3 123.4 

 III 96.9 98.7 101.9 119.3 98.7 123.2 

 II 97.8 98.2 100.4 117.2 98.2 119.8 

 I 96.9 96.9 100.0 116.2 99.7 119.9 

2021 ANNUAL 98.2 94.5 96.3 115.3 104.1 117.5 

2021 IV 97.6 95.6 97.9 116.7 102.4 119.6 

 III 97.6 94.4 96.7 114.1 102.3 116.9 

 II 98.3 93.7 95.3 116.3 105.9 118.3 

 I 99.0 94.4 95.4 113.9 105.7 115.0 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-13-

Table 5. Nondurable manufacturing sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor

costs, seasonally adjusted.

 Real

Year Labor Hourly hourly Unit

and produc- Hours compensa- compensa- labor

quarter tivity Output worked tion (1) tion (2) costs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 ANNUAL 0.3 -1.3 -1.6 4.9 0.7 4.6 

2023 IV 2.5 -0.3 -2.7 2.5 -0.2 0.0 

 III 2.6 r -1.9 r -4.4 r 8.7 r 5.0 6.0 r

 II 2.0 -1.7 -3.6 8.4 5.6 6.3 

 I 1.1 0.9 -0.2 2.4 -1.3 1.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.6 1.7 3.4 5.3 -2.6 7.1 

2022 IV -4.2 -4.6 -0.4 2.6 -1.5 7.1 

 III -0.2 -1.2 -1.1 7.5 1.8 7.6 

 II 1.3 0.6 -0.7 2.7 -6.5 1.3 

 I -3.9 0.6 4.7 5.2 -3.8 9.4 

2021 ANNUAL 1.1 4.5 3.3 0.7 -3.9 -0.4 

2021 IV -6.2 3.8 10.7 5.7 -2.8 12.7 

 III -1.5 2.6 4.2 10.1 3.3 11.8 

 II 12.1 14.4 2.1 1.1 -6.4 -9.8 

 I 1.7 -1.2 -2.9 -5.7 -9.6 -7.2 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 ANNUAL 0.3 -1.3 -1.6 4.9 0.7 4.6 

2023 IV 2.0 -0.7 -2.7 5.5 2.2 3.4 

 III 0.3 r -1.8 r -2.2 r 5.5 1.9 5.2 r

 II -0.4 -1.7 -1.3 5.2 1.1 5.6 

 I -0.5 -1.1 -0.6 3.8 -1.9 4.3 

2022 ANNUAL -1.6 1.7 3.4 5.3 -2.6 7.1 

2022 IV -1.8 -1.2 0.6 4.5 -2.5 6.3 

 III -2.3 0.9 3.3 5.2 -2.9 7.7 

 II -2.6 1.9 4.6 5.9 -2.5 8.7 

 I -0.1 5.2 5.4 5.5 -2.5 5.6 

2021 ANNUAL 1.1 4.5 3.3 0.7 -3.9 -0.4 

2021 IV 1.3 4.7 3.4 2.6 -4.0 1.3 

 III 1.8 5.9 4.0 1.1 -4.1 -0.7 

 II 2.2 10.3 7.9 -3.1 -7.7 -5.2 

 I -0.7 -2.5 -1.8 2.1 0.1 2.9 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 ANNUAL 99.2 100.2 101.0 125.1 100.3 126.1 

2023 IV 100.0 99.8 99.8 127.5 101.1 127.5 

 III 99.4 r 99.9 r 100.5 r 126.7 r 101.2 r 127.5 r

 II 98.8 r 100.3 r 101.6 124.1 100.0 125.6 r

 I 98.3 100.8 102.5 121.6 98.6 123.7 

2022 ANNUAL 98.9 101.5 102.7 119.2 99.6 120.6 

2022 IV 98.0 100.5 102.6 120.9 99.0 123.3 

 III 99.1 101.7 102.7 120.1 99.3 121.2 

 II 99.1 102.0 102.9 118.0 98.9 119.0 

 I 98.8 101.9 103.1 117.2 100.6 118.6 

2021 ANNUAL 100.6 99.9 99.3 113.2 102.2 112.6 

2021 IV 99.8 101.7 101.9 115.7 101.5 116.0 

 III 101.4 100.8 99.4 114.1 102.3 112.6 

 II 101.8 100.1 98.4 111.4 101.5 109.5 

 I 98.9 96.8 97.9 111.1 103.1 112.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-14-

Table 6. Nonfinancial corporate sector: Labor productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs,

unit profits, and prices, seasonally adjusted.

 Value-

 Real added Unit

 Hourly hourly output Unit combined

Year Labor compen- compen- Unit price nonlabor input Unit

and produc- Hours sation sation labor deflator costs costs profits

quarter tivity Output worked (1) (2) costs (4) (6) (7) (8)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2023 III 2.5 r 3.3 r 0.8 3.7 r 0.1 r 1.2 r 1.9 r -3.3 r -0.2 r 13.7 r

 II 2.2 1.2 -0.9 7.2 4.4 4.9 3.1 -2.4 2.6 6.0 

 I 1.6 4.3 2.6 6.7 2.9 5.0 0.0 2.3 4.1 -18.8 

2022 ANNUAL -1.0 3.1 4.2 4.1 -3.7 5.2 7.5 11.8 7.2 9.1 

2022 IV -1.3 -0.1 1.2 0.3 -3.7 1.7 1.1 2.2 1.8 -2.3 

 III 1.4 5.0 3.6 6.7 1.0 5.2 3.1 1.1 3.9 -0.6 

 II -1.6 0.6 2.3 2.6 -6.5 4.3 11.2 9.1 5.8 42.8 

 I -3.1 0.8 4.0 1.7 -7.0 4.9 10.4 22.8 10.2 11.7 

2021 ANNUAL 3.6 9.0 5.1 4.7 -0.2 1.0 4.8 3.8 1.8 23.3 

2021 IV -2.5 5.2 8.0 4.2 -4.2 6.9 7.7 18.6 10.3 -4.7 

 III 2.6 7.0 4.2 8.7 1.9 5.9 3.6 15.2 8.6 -17.9 

 II 0.6 6.4 5.8 6.9 -0.9 6.3 8.5 -12.0 0.4 59.6 

 I 3.4 7.7 4.2 -0.5 -4.7 -3.8 5.7 5.6 -1.0 53.3 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2023 III 1.2 2.2 r 0.9 4.5 0.9 3.2 r 1.5 -0.4 r 2.1 r -1.1 r

 II 1.0 2.6 1.6 5.2 1.1 4.2 1.8 0.7 3.1 -4.4 

 I 0.0 2.4 2.4 4.1 -1.6 4.1 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.0 

2022 ANNUAL -1.0 3.1 4.2 4.1 -3.7 5.2 7.5 11.8 7.2 9.1 

2022 IV -1.2 1.6 2.8 2.8 -4.1 4.0 6.4 8.5 5.4 11.5 

 III -1.5 2.9 4.4 3.8 -4.2 5.3 8.1 12.6 7.5 10.8 

 II -1.2 3.4 4.6 4.3 -4.0 5.5 8.2 16.3 8.7 5.7 

 I -0.6 4.8 5.5 5.3 -2.6 6.0 7.5 10.2 7.3 8.7 

2021 ANNUAL 3.6 9.0 5.1 4.7 -0.2 1.0 4.8 3.8 1.8 23.3 

2021 IV 1.0 6.6 5.5 4.8 -2.0 3.7 6.4 6.1 4.4 17.6 

 III 4.6 10.9 6.0 5.7 0.3 1.1 4.0 14.3 4.7 0.5 

 II 3.7 17.1 12.9 1.7 -3.1 -1.9 5.6 3.1 -0.5 48.8 

 I 5.7 2.4 -3.2 6.5 4.4 0.7 3.3 -5.6 -1.3 37.5 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Indexes 2017=100

2023 III 111.1 r 117.8 r 106.1 r 133.4 r 106.6 r 120.2 r 121.8 r 110.2 r 116.9 r 154.9 r

 II 110.4 116.9 105.9 132.2 106.5 119.8 121.2 111.1 117.0 150.0 

 I 109.8 116.5 106.1 129.9 105.4 118.4 120.3 111.8 116.2 147.8 

2022 ANNUAL 109.6 114.6 104.5 126.7 105.8 115.5 118.8 110.0 113.7 153.2 

2022 IV 109.3 115.3 105.4 127.8 104.6 116.9 120.3 111.2 115.0 155.7 

 III 109.7 115.3 105.1 127.7 105.6 116.4 120.0 110.6 114.5 156.6 

 II 109.3 113.9 104.2 125.7 105.4 115.0 119.0 110.3 113.4 156.9 

 I 109.8 113.7 103.6 124.9 107.1 113.8 115.9 107.9 111.8 143.5 

2021 ANNUAL 110.8 111.1 100.3 121.7 109.8 109.8 110.5 98.4 106.1 140.4 

2021 IV 110.6 113.5 102.6 124.3 109.1 112.4 113.1 102.5 109.2 139.6 

 III 111.3 112.1 100.7 123.1 110.3 110.5 111.0 98.2 106.5 141.3 

 II 110.6 110.2 99.6 120.6 109.8 109.0 110.0 94.8 104.3 148.4 

 I 110.5 108.5 98.2 118.5 110.0 107.3 107.8 97.9 104.2 132.0 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes following Table 6. February 1, 2024

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-15-

SOURCES: Output data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau of the U.S. 

Department of Commerce; the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; and the Federal 

Reserve Board. Hours and compensation data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of

Economic Analysis.

SIZE OF REVISIONS: Productivity and cost measures are revised on a regular schedule as more 

complete data become available. The first estimate is published within 40 days of the close of the 

reference quarter, the second estimate approximately 30 days later, and the third estimate approximately 

60 days after the second estimate. Based on past revisions, the third estimate of nonfarm business sector 

quarterly labor productivity growth has differed from the first estimate by -1.1 to +1.3 percentage point 

about 80 percent of the time. This interval is based on estimates for reference quarters from the first 

quarter of 2001 to the third quarter of 2023. For more about revisions to labor productivity growth see 

“Revisions to BLS quarterly labor productivity estimates: How large are they?” at 

www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2022/article/revisions-to-bls-quarterly-labor-productivity-estimates-how-largeare-they.htm.

Table Footnotes

(1) Wages and salaries of employees plus employers' contributions for social insurance and private

benefit plans. Except for nonfinancial corporations, where there are no self-employed, data also include

an estimate of wages, salaries, and supplemental payments for the self-employed.

(2) The change for recent quarters is based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers 

(CPI-U). The trend from 1978-2022 is based on the Consumer Price Index Retroactive series (CPI-URS).

(3) Unit nonlabor payments include profits, consumption of fixed capital, taxes on production and 

imports less subsidies, net interest and miscellaneous payments, business current transfer payments, 

rental income of persons, and the current surplus of government enterprises.

(4) Current dollar output divided by the output index.

(5) Quarterly changes: Percent change compounded at annual rate is calculated using index numbers to 

three decimal places. Indexes published in the news release are rounded to one decimal place for

convenience. Annual changes: Percent change is calculated using annual indexes to three decimal 

places.

(6) Unit nonlabor costs include consumption of fixed capital, taxes on production and imports less 

subsidies, net interest and miscellaneous payments, and business current transfer payments.

(7) Total unit costs are the sum of unit labor and nonlabor costs.

(8) Unit profits include corporate profits before tax with inventory valuation and capital consumption 

adjustment.