Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL 20-2215

8:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 8, 2020

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

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

PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS 

Third Quarter 2020, Revised

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 4.6 percent in the third quarter of 2020, the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 43.4 percent and hours worked 

increased 37.1 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual 

rates, and show what the percent change would be if the quarterly rate continued for four quarters.) The 

4.6-percent gain in productivity in the third quarter follows an increase of 10.6 percent during the second 

quarter. Over the last four quarters, nonfarm business productivity increased 4.0 percent, reflecting a 

3.4-percent decline in output and a 7.1-percent decline in hours worked. (See chart 1 and table A1.)

Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector decreased at an annual rate of 6.6 percent in the third

quarter of 2020, the combined effect of a 2.3-percent decrease in hourly compensation and the 4.6-

percent increase in productivity. The third-quarter decline in unit labor costs followed three consecutive 

quarterly increases, and nonfarm business unit labor costs increased 4.0 percent over the last four 

quarters. (See chart 2 and table 2.) 

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

hours worked by all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. The 4.6-

percent increase in productivity in third-quarter 2020 results from the largest gains in both the output 

(43.4 percent) and the hours worked (37.1 percent) series, which begin in 1947. In contrast, the 10.6-

percent gain in nonfarm business labor productivity in second-quarter 2020 reflected a decline in output 

of 36.8 percent and a decline in hours worked of 42.9 percent—the largest declines in both series. 
-2-

Overall, the output and hours worked index levels remain below their levels in the fourth quarter of 

2019, the last quarter before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began. Output and hours worked 

remain 4.0 percent and 7.4 percent below their fourth-quarter 2019 levels, respectively. (See chart 3.)

Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased at a 19.9 percent annual rate in the third quarter of 

2020 as output increased at a 56.2 percent annual rate and hours worked increased at a 30.3 percent 

annual rate. These series-high increases in the third quarter of 2020 follow the largest decreases in these 

three measures in the second quarter, when total manufacturing productivity fell 14.0 percent, output 

dropped 46.5 percent, and hours worked fell 37.8 percent. As of the third quarter of 2020, output 

remains 5.7 percent below its fourth-quarter 2019 index level, while hours worked is 6.8 percent lower. 

(See chart 4 and table 3.) 
-3-

Durable goods manufacturing was responsible for the majority of the 19.9-percent total manufacturing 

productivity increase, as it saw an increase in productivity of 47.0 percent, reflecting a 99.8-percent 

increase in output and a 35.9-percent increase in hours worked. The sharp increase in durable 

manufacturing output in the third quarter was driven by motor vehicle production. Nondurable goods 

manufacturing productivity increased 0.7 percent in the third quarter of 2020, as output increased 22.6 

percent and hours worked increased 21.8 percent. (See tables A1, 4, and 5.)

Unit labor costs in the total manufacturing sector decreased 12.1 percent in the third quarter of 2020, the 

largest decline since the first quarter of 2010, when the measure fell 13.0 percent. The third-quarter 

decrease followed a 44.8-percent increase in unit labor costs in the second quarter of 2020, the largest 

increase in the series. Unit labor costs increased 8.9 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Total 

manufacturing sector productivity increased 1.0 percent over the last four quarters, as output decreased 

5.8 percent and hours worked decreased 6.7 percent. (See tables A1 and 3.)

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 8.)

Preliminary third-quarter 2020 measures were announced today for the nonfinancial corporate sector.

Productivity increased 0.8 percent in the third quarter of 2020 as output and hours worked increased 

33.3 percent and 32.3 percent, respectively. These were the largest increases in both output and hours 

worked since the series began in the first quarter of 1947. In contrast, the 4.8-percent increase in second 

quarter 2020 productivity reflected the largest declines in the output and hours series, with output 

decreasing 38.3 percent and hours worked decreasing 41.1 percent. Output remains 5.7 percent below 

the fourth quarter 2019 level, while hours worked remains 7.1 percent lower. Productivity increased 1.7

percent in the nonfinancial corporate sector over the last four quarters. Unit profits of nonfinancial 

corporations increased at a 220.5 percent annual rate in the third quarter of 2020—the largest increase in 

the series starting in the first quarter of 1947—and increased 17.1 percent over the last four quarters. 

(See tables A2 and 6.)
-4-

Revised measures

Measures released today are based on more recent source data than were available for the preliminary 

report. Regular updates of source data from the BLS, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are reflected in data for the second and third quarters 

of 2020. Measures of output for the manufacturing sectors incorporate revised annual benchmark data 

from 1987 to 2018 released November 19 by BLS; resulting revisions to percent changes are small.

Table B1 presents revised and previously published productivity and related measures for the nonfarm 

business, business, and manufacturing sectors for the third quarter of 2020. 

In the third quarter of 2020, nonfarm business labor productivity increased 4.6 percent rather than the 

preliminary estimate of an increase of 4.9 percent, reflecting a 0.1-percentage point downward revision 

to output and a 0.3-percentage point upward revision to hours worked. Unit labor costs were revised up 

2.3 percentage points due primarily to a 2.1-percentage point upward revision to hourly compensation. 

In the manufacturing sector, productivity increased 19.9 percent rather than 19.0 percent as previously 

reported, reflecting a 1.4-percentage point upward revision to output and a 0.2-percentage point upward 

revision to hours worked. Durable manufacturing productivity increased 47.0 percent rather than 

increasing 44.2 percent as previously reported, reflecting a 3.8-percentage point upward revision to 

output; hours worked were unrevised. Nondurable manufacturing productivity was revised down to an 

increase of 0.7 percent rather than an increase of 1.2 percent as previously reported, due to a 0.1-

percentage point downward revision to output and a 0.6-percentage point upward revision to hours 

worked. Total manufacturing unit labor costs were revised up 6.1 percentage points to a decrease of 12.1 

percent, as a 7.9-percentage point upward revision to hourly compensation was partially offset by the 

0.9-percentage point upward revision to productivity. 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 labor productivity tend to reduce unit labor costs.

Table B2 shows revised and previously published productivity and related measures for the nonfarm 

business, business, manufacturing, and nonfinancial corporate sectors for the second quarter of 2020.

In the second quarter of 2020, labor productivity, output, and hours worked were unrevised for the 

nonfarm business sector. Unit labor costs increased 12.3 percent, rather than increasing 8.5 percent as 

previously reported, due to a 4.3-percentage point upward revision to hourly compensation. 

In the manufacturing sector, productivity was revised up 0.3 percentage point to a decrease of 14.0 

percent, due to an upward revision to output; hours worked were unrevised. Unit labor costs were 

revised up to an increase of 44.8 percent rather than the previously reported increase of 28.4 percent. 

This large revision is mainly due to a 14.4-percentage point upward revision to hourly compensation.

In the nonfinancial corporate sector, productivity increased 4.8 percent rather than 2.9 percent as 

previously reported, due solely to a 1.1-percentage point upward revision to output; hours worked were 

unrevised. Unit labor costs were revised up 1.2 percentage points to an increase of 24.7 percent, 

reflecting a 1.9-percentage point upward revision to labor productivity and a 3.6-percentage point 

upward revision to hourly compensation.

Complete annual and quarterly data series can be found on the Productivity and Costs home page: 

www.bls.gov/lpc/#data.
-5-

______________

The preliminary Productivity and Costs news release for fourth-quarter and annual averages 2020 

is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Calendar year 2021 release dates for Productivity and Costs news releases are now available at 

www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/prod2.htm.

Upcoming Methodology Change

Beginning with the Productivity and Costs news release scheduled for March 4, 2021, BLS will 

extend methodology improvements made since release of first-quarter 2020 data to the remaining 

seasonally adjusted CPS series used by the major sector labor productivity program. Several prior

years of hours worked data and related measures will be revised.

Previously, BLS improved seasonal adjustment of CPS data on hours worked by the nonfarm selfemployed and all farm workers to account for extreme values in March and April due to the impact of 

the COVID-19 pandemic. Seasonal adjustment software was updated from X12ARIMA to 

X13ARIMA-SEATS from the U.S. Census Bureau. This same methodology change will be used for 

the remaining seasonally adjusted CPS series beginning with the revised fourth-quarter 2020 data.
-6-

Table A1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised third-quarter 2020

(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 4.6 43.4 37.1 -2.3 -7.1 -6.6

A year ago 4.0 -3.4 -7.1 8.2 6.8 4.0

Business Previous quarter 6.0 43.6 35.5 -1.2 -6.1 -6.8

A year ago 4.2 -3.2 -7.1 8.2 6.9 3.9

Manufacturing Previous quarter 19.9 56.2 30.3 5.3 0.2 -12.1

A year ago 1.0 -5.8 -6.7 10.0 8.6 8.9

Durable 

manufacturing

Previous quarter 47.0 99.8 35.9 7.4 2.2 -26.9

A year ago 0.8 -7.0 -7.8 11.1 9.7 10.2

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Previous quarter 0.7 22.6 21.8 0.3 -4.7 -0.4

A year ago 0.5 -4.5 -4.9 8.1 6.8 7.6

Table A2. Labor productivity growth and related measures - preliminary third-quarter 2020

(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

Nonfinancial 

corporate

Previous quarter 0.8 33.3 32.3 -3.0 -7.8 -3.8

A year ago 1.7 -5.1 -6.8 8.9 7.5 7.0

Table B1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published third-quarter 2020

(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 4.6 43.4 37.1 -2.3 -7.1 -6.6

Previously published 4.9 43.5 36.8 -4.4 -9.1 -8.9

Business Revised 6.0 43.6 35.5 -1.2 -6.1 -6.8

Previously published 6.4 43.7 35.1 -3.3 -8.1 -9.1

Manufacturing Revised 19.9 56.2 30.3 5.3 0.2 -12.1

Previously published 19.0 54.8 30.1 -2.6 -7.4 -18.2

Durable 

manufacturing

Revised 47.0 99.8 35.9 7.4 2.2 -26.9

Previously published 44.2 96.0 35.9 -3.0 -7.8 -32.8

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Revised 0.7 22.6 21.8 0.3 -4.7 -0.4

Previously published 1.2 22.7 21.2 -2.8 -7.5 -4.0
-7-

Table B2. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published second-quarter 2020

(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 10.6 -36.8 -42.9 24.3 28.8 12.3

Previously published 10.6 -36.8 -42.9 20.0 24.4 8.5

Business Revised 9.6 -36.8 -42.4 23.5 28.1 12.7

Previously published 9.6 -36.8 -42.4 19.4 23.7 8.9

Manufacturing Revised -14.0 -46.5 -37.8 24.5 29.0 44.8

Previously published -14.3 -46.7 -37.8 10.1 14.1 28.4

Durable 

manufacturing

Revised -26.9 -57.8 -42.3 25.6 30.2 71.9

Previously published -26.9 -57.8 -42.3 8.8 12.8 48.8

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Revised -3.8 -32.5 -29.8 24.7 29.2 29.6

Previously published -4.4 -32.9 -29.8 14.6 18.8 19.9

Nonfinancial 

corporate

Revised 4.8 -38.3 -41.1 30.7 35.4 24.7

Previously published 2.9 -39.4 -41.1 27.1 31.8 23.5
-8-

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 wage and salary workers in 

nonfarm establishments, counting a person who is employed by two or more establishments at each 

place of employment. The CES also provides average weekly paid hours of production and 

nonsupervisory workers in these establishments. Weekly paid hours are adjusted to hours worked 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, weekly paid hours are 

adjusted to hours at work using a combination of NCS and Hours at Work survey data. The Office of 

Productivity and Technology estimates average weekly hours at work for nonproduction and supervisory 

workers using information from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the CES, and the NCS.

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 (https://www.bls.gov/lpc/special_requests/us_total_hrs_emp.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 private 

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

worked. Business output accounted for about 78 percent of the value of GDP in 2019. Nonfarm 

business, which excludes farming, accounted for about 77 percent of GDP in 2019.

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 intrasector 

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; private 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 50 percent of the value of GDP in 2019. 
-9-

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 private 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 2012=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 "Technical Information About the Major Sector 

Productivity and Costs Methods" at www.bls.gov/lpc/lpcmethods.pdf.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service number: 1-800-877-8339.
-10-

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

seasonally adjusted.

 Real

 Hourly hourly Unit Implicit

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)

2020 III 6.0 r 43.6 r 35.5 r -1.2 r -6.1 r -6.8 r 24.0 r 4.7 

 II 9.6 -36.8 -42.4 23.5 r 28.1 r 12.7 r -24.3 r -4.3 

 I 0.0 -6.0 -6.0 9.0 7.7 9.0 -9.2 0.8 

2019 ANNUAL 1.7 2.4 0.7 3.6 1.8 1.9 0.9 1.5 

2019 IV 1.4 2.8 1.4 3.1 0.7 1.7 0.6 1.2 

 III 0.2 2.9 2.7 -0.1 -1.9 -0.3 2.9 1.1 

 II 2.2 1.3 -0.9 1.7 -1.3 -0.5 7.8 3.0 

 I 3.6 3.6 0.0 8.8 7.9 5.0 -5.4 0.4 

2018 ANNUAL 1.6 3.5 1.9 3.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 2.2 

2018 IV 0.7 1.5 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.9 2.2 1.4 

 III 0.1 2.3 2.1 4.7 2.5 4.5 -3.0 1.1 

 II 1.7 3.0 1.3 1.7 -0.5 -0.1 8.4 3.6 

 I 2.9 4.5 1.6 2.7 -0.6 -0.2 5.0 2.0 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 4.2 r -3.2 -7.1 r 8.2 r 6.9 r 3.9 r -3.8 r 0.5 r

 II 2.7 -11.0 -13.3 8.5 r 8.0 r 5.7 r -8.1 r -0.3 

 I 0.9 0.2 -0.8 3.3 1.2 2.4 0.3 1.5 

2019 ANNUAL 1.7 2.4 0.7 3.6 1.8 1.9 0.9 1.5 

2019 IV 1.8 2.6 0.8 3.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 

 III 1.7 2.3 0.6 2.9 1.1 1.2 1.8 1.5 

 II 1.7 2.2 0.5 4.1 2.3 2.4 0.2 1.5 

 I 1.5 2.6 1.0 4.1 2.5 2.6 0.4 1.6 

2018 ANNUAL 1.6 3.5 1.9 3.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 2.2 

2018 IV 1.3 2.8 1.4 2.6 0.4 1.3 3.1 2.0 

 III 1.3 3.6 2.2 3.4 0.7 2.1 2.7 2.3 

 II 2.0 3.9 1.9 3.7 1.0 1.6 3.7 2.5 

 I 1.6 3.7 2.1 3.9 1.6 2.3 1.3 1.9 

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 112.8 r 118.0 r 104.5 r 129.9 r 114.7 r 115.2 r 105.7 r 111.1 r

 II 111.2 107.7 96.9 130.3 r 116.6 r 117.2 r 100.2 r 109.8 

 I 108.7 120.8 111.2 123.6 109.6 113.8 107.4 111.0 

2019 ANNUAL 108.2 121.6 112.3 120.2 107.8 111.1 109.0 110.2 

2019 IV 108.7 122.7 113.0 121.0 107.6 111.4 110.1 110.8 

 III 108.3 121.9 112.6 120.1 107.4 110.9 109.9 110.4 

 II 108.3 121.0 111.8 120.1 107.9 111.0 109.1 110.2 

 I 107.7 120.6 112.1 119.6 108.3 111.1 107.1 109.4 

2018 ANNUAL 106.4 118.7 111.5 116.0 105.9 109.0 108.0 108.6 

2018 IV 106.7 119.6 112.1 117.1 106.2 109.8 108.6 109.3 

 III 106.5 119.1 111.8 116.7 106.2 109.5 108.0 108.9 

 II 106.5 118.5 111.3 115.4 105.5 108.3 108.8 108.5 

 I 106.0 117.6 110.9 114.9 105.6 108.3 106.7 107.6 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

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

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

prices, seasonally adjusted.

 Real

 Hourly hourly Unit Implicit

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)

2020 III 4.6 r 43.4 r 37.1 r -2.3 r -7.1 r -6.6 r 22.9 r 4.4 

 II 10.6 -36.8 -42.9 24.3 r 28.8 r 12.3 r -22.7 r -3.6 

 I -0.3 -6.4 -6.1 9.2 7.9 9.6 -9.8 0.8 

2019 ANNUAL 1.7 2.5 0.7 3.6 1.8 1.9 1.1 1.5 

2019 IV 1.6 2.8 1.2 3.3 0.9 1.7 0.6 1.2 

 III 0.3 2.9 2.6 -0.2 -2.0 -0.4 2.9 1.0 

 II 2.0 1.2 -0.7 1.4 -1.6 -0.6 8.0 3.0 

 I 3.7 3.8 0.1 8.7 7.7 4.8 -5.2 0.4 

2018 ANNUAL 1.4 3.5 2.0 3.4 0.9 1.9 2.7 2.2 

2018 IV 0.8 1.4 0.7 1.8 0.5 1.0 1.9 1.4 

 III 0.5 2.3 1.8 5.1 2.9 4.5 -2.4 1.4 

 II 1.1 3.0 1.8 1.3 -0.9 0.2 8.3 3.6 

 I 2.3 4.3 2.0 2.2 -1.0 0.0 4.9 2.1 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 4.0 r -3.4 -7.1 r 8.2 r 6.8 r 4.0 r -3.6 r 0.7 

 II 2.9 -11.1 -13.6 8.8 r 8.3 r 5.7 r -7.8 r -0.2 

 I 0.9 0.1 -0.8 3.4 1.2 2.5 0.2 1.5 

2019 ANNUAL 1.7 2.5 0.7 3.6 1.8 1.9 1.1 1.5 

2019 IV 1.9 2.7 0.8 3.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 

 III 1.7 2.3 0.6 2.9 1.1 1.2 1.8 1.4 

 II 1.7 2.2 0.4 4.2 2.3 2.4 0.5 1.6 

 I 1.5 2.6 1.1 4.2 2.5 2.6 0.5 1.7 

2018 ANNUAL 1.4 3.5 2.0 3.4 0.9 1.9 2.7 2.2 

2018 IV 1.2 2.7 1.6 2.6 0.4 1.4 3.1 2.1 

 III 1.3 3.6 2.2 3.5 0.8 2.2 2.7 2.4 

 II 1.8 3.9 2.1 3.5 0.8 1.7 3.7 2.6 

 I 1.5 3.7 2.2 3.8 1.6 2.3 1.4 1.9 

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 112.3 r 117.6 r 104.6 r 130.0 r 114.8 r 115.7 r 106.8 r 111.9 r

 II 111.1 107.4 96.7 130.8 r 116.9 r 117.7 r 101.4 r 110.6 

 I 108.3 120.5 111.2 123.9 109.8 114.4 108.2 111.7 

2019 ANNUAL 107.9 121.3 112.4 120.4 107.9 111.5 110.0 110.8 

2019 IV 108.4 122.5 113.0 121.2 107.7 111.8 111.0 111.4 

 III 108.0 121.6 112.7 120.2 107.5 111.3 110.8 111.1 

 II 107.9 120.8 111.9 120.2 108.0 111.4 110.1 110.8 

 I 107.4 120.4 112.1 119.8 108.4 111.6 108.0 110.0 

2018 ANNUAL 106.1 118.4 111.6 116.2 106.0 109.5 108.8 109.2 

2018 IV 106.4 119.3 112.1 117.3 106.4 110.3 109.4 109.9 

 III 106.2 118.9 111.9 116.8 106.3 110.0 108.9 109.5 

 II 106.1 118.2 111.4 115.4 105.5 108.8 109.6 109.1 

 I 105.8 117.3 110.9 115.0 105.8 108.8 107.4 108.2 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

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

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)

2020 III 19.9 r 56.2 r 30.3 r 5.3 r 0.2 r -12.1 r

 II -14.0 r -46.5 r -37.8 24.5 r 29.0 r 44.8 r

 I 1.6 -5.5 -7.0 6.0 4.7 4.3 r

2019 ANNUAL 0.1 0.0 -0.1 2.9 1.1 2.8 

2019 IV -0.7 -0.2 0.5 5.2 2.8 6.0 

 III -0.5 0.9 1.4 -1.9 -3.7 -1.4 

 II -2.3 -3.1 -0.9 1.4 -1.6 3.8 

 I 1.3 -1.7 -3.1 6.9 6.0 5.5 

2018 ANNUAL 0.4 r 2.3 r 1.9 2.1 -0.3 1.7 r

2018 IV 0.9 1.6 0.6 3.4 2.1 2.4 

 III 0.3 4.0 3.7 3.6 1.5 3.3 

 II 1.3 2.6 1.3 -3.4 -5.5 -4.7 

 I 0.0 r 1.9 r 1.9 2.5 -0.8 2.5 r

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 1.0 r -5.8 r -6.7 r 10.0 r 8.6 r 8.9 r

 II -3.6 r -15.5 r -12.4 8.0 r 7.5 r 12.1 r

 I -0.5 -2.0 -1.5 2.6 0.5 3.1 

2019 ANNUAL 0.1 0.0 -0.1 2.9 1.1 2.8 

2019 IV -0.6 -1.1 -0.5 2.9 0.8 3.4 

 III -0.1 -0.6 -0.5 2.4 0.6 2.5 r

 II 0.1 0.1 0.1 3.8 2.0 3.7 r

 I 1.0 1.6 0.6 2.6 0.9 1.6 

2018 ANNUAL 0.4 r 2.3 r 1.9 2.1 -0.3 1.7 r

2018 IV 0.6 2.5 1.9 1.5 -0.7 0.8 r

 III 1.2 r 3.4 r 2.2 1.9 -0.8 0.6 r

 II -0.2 r 1.7 2.0 1.6 -1.1 1.8 r

 I -0.1 r 1.5 r 1.6 3.6 1.4 3.7 r

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 99.6 r 98.9 r 99.3 r 126.4 r 111.6 r 127.0 r

 II 95.2 r 88.5 r 93.0 124.8 r 111.6 r 131.1 r

 I 98.8 r 103.5 r 104.7 118.1 104.7 119.5 r

2019 ANNUAL 98.8 r 105.1 r 106.4 115.5 103.5 117.0 r

2019 IV 98.4 r 104.9 r 106.6 116.4 103.5 118.3 r

 III 98.6 r 105.0 r 106.5 115.0 102.8 116.6 r

 II 98.7 r 104.7 r 106.1 115.5 103.8 117.0 r

 I 99.3 r 105.6 r 106.3 115.1 104.2 115.9 r

2018 ANNUAL 98.7 r 105.0 r 106.4 112.2 102.4 113.8 r

2018 IV 99.0 r 106.0 r 107.1 113.2 102.7 114.4 r

 III 98.7 r 105.6 r 107.0 112.3 102.1 113.7 r

 II 98.7 r 104.6 r 106.0 111.3 101.8 112.8 r

 I 98.3 r 103.9 r 105.7 112.2 103.2 114.2 r

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

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

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)

2020 III 47.0 r 99.8 r 35.9 7.4 r 2.2 r -26.9 r

 II -26.9 -57.8 -42.3 25.6 r 30.2 r 71.9 r

 I -2.6 -9.8 -7.4 4.5 3.2 7.3 

2019 ANNUAL 0.6 r 0.8 0.2 2.4 0.5 1.7 

2019 IV -1.1 -1.5 -0.4 8.0 5.5 9.2 

 III 0.4 1.5 1.1 -3.2 -4.9 -3.6 

 II -0.7 -2.3 -1.6 0.4 -2.5 1.1 

 I 0.3 -2.7 -3.0 6.9 5.9 6.6 

2018 ANNUAL 1.2 r 3.5 r 2.2 2.7 0.2 1.4 r

2018 IV 1.8 4.9 r 3.1 1.5 0.3 -0.3 

 III 2.5 r 6.2 r 3.6 3.3 1.2 0.8 r

 II 0.7 r 2.7 r 2.0 -2.8 -4.9 -3.5 r

 I 1.4 r 4.6 r 3.1 2.7 -0.6 1.3 r

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 0.8 r -7.0 r -7.8 11.1 r 9.7 r 10.2 r

 II -8.3 -21.5 -14.3 8.2 r 7.8 r 18.1 r

 I -1.0 -3.1 -2.1 2.4 0.2 3.4 

2019 ANNUAL 0.6 r 0.8 0.2 2.4 0.5 1.7 

2019 IV -0.3 -1.3 -1.0 2.9 0.9 3.2 

 III 0.5 0.3 -0.1 1.4 -0.4 0.9 

 II 1.0 1.4 r 0.5 3.0 1.2 2.0 

 I 1.3 r 2.7 r 1.4 2.2 0.5 0.8 r

2018 ANNUAL 1.2 r 3.5 r 2.2 2.7 0.2 1.4 r

2018 IV 1.6 r 4.6 r 2.9 1.1 -1.0 -0.4 r

 III 2.1 r 4.6 r 2.5 2.4 -0.2 0.3 r

 II 0.3 r 2.5 r 2.2 2.2 -0.4 1.9 r

 I 0.9 r 2.1 r 1.2 4.9 2.6 4.0 r

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 101.6 r 99.9 r 98.4 r 127.8 r 112.9 r 125.8 r

 II 92.2 r 84.1 r 91.1 125.5 r 112.3 r 136.1 r

 I 99.8 r 104.3 r 104.5 118.6 105.1 118.9 r

2019 ANNUAL 100.6 r 107.3 r 106.6 116.0 104.0 115.3 r

2019 IV 100.4 r 107.0 r 106.6 117.3 104.3 116.8 r

 III 100.7 r 107.4 r 106.7 115.1 102.9 114.2 r

 II 100.6 r 107.0 r 106.4 116.0 104.2 115.3 r

 I 100.8 r 107.7 r 106.8 115.9 104.8 115.0 r

2018 ANNUAL 100.0 r 106.5 r 106.4 113.4 103.5 113.3 r

2018 IV 100.7 r 108.4 r 107.6 113.9 103.3 113.2 r

 III 100.3 r 107.1 r 106.8 113.5 103.3 113.2 r

 II 99.6 r 105.5 r 105.9 112.6 103.0 113.0 r

 I 99.5 r 104.8 r 105.4 113.4 104.3 114.0 r

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

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

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)

2020 III 0.7 r 22.6 r 21.8 r 0.3 r -4.7 r -0.4 r

 II -3.8 r -32.5 r -29.8 24.7 r 29.2 r 29.6 r

 I 6.1 -0.7 -6.4 9.0 7.7 2.7 

2019 ANNUAL -0.4 -0.9 -0.5 3.9 2.1 4.3 r

2019 IV -0.8 1.2 2.1 0.2 -2.1 1.1 

 III -1.8 0.2 2.0 0.7 -1.1 2.4 

 II -4.4 -4.0 0.5 3.7 0.6 8.5 

 I 2.5 -0.7 -3.2 7.0 6.0 4.3 

2018 ANNUAL -0.6 r 0.8 r 1.4 1.0 -1.4 1.6 r

2018 IV 1.5 r -1.9 r -3.3 6.4 5.1 4.8 r

 III -2.2 r 1.6 r 3.9 4.3 2.2 6.7 r

 II 2.1 r 2.3 r 0.1 -4.8 -6.8 -6.8 r

 I -1.2 r -1.2 r 0.0 1.7 -1.5 3.0 r

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 0.5 -4.5 r -4.9 r 8.1 r 6.8 r 7.6 r

 II -0.1 r -9.2 r -9.0 8.2 r 7.7 r 8.4 r

 I -0.3 -0.8 -0.5 3.3 1.2 3.6 

2019 ANNUAL -0.4 -0.9 -0.5 3.9 2.1 4.3 r

2019 IV -1.2 -0.8 0.3 2.8 0.8 4.0 

 III -0.6 -1.6 -1.0 4.4 2.6 5.0 

 II -0.7 r -1.3 -0.6 5.3 3.4 6.1 

 I 1.0 r 0.3 r -0.7 3.1 1.5 2.1 r

2018 ANNUAL -0.6 r 0.8 r 1.4 1.0 -1.4 1.6 r

2018 IV 0.0 r 0.2 r 0.1 1.8 -0.4 1.8 r

 III 0.2 r 1.8 r 1.6 0.7 -1.9 0.5 r

 II -1.0 r 0.6 r 1.6 0.3 -2.4 1.3 r

 I -1.7 r 0.6 r 2.3 1.2 -1.0 2.9 r

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 97.8 r 98.7 r 100.9 r 124.0 r 109.5 r 126.8 r

 II 97.7 r 93.8 r 96.0 124.0 r 110.8 r 126.9 r

 I 98.6 r 103.5 r 104.9 117.3 104.0 118.9 r

2019 ANNUAL 97.8 r 103.6 r 106.0 114.4 102.6 117.0 r

2019 IV 97.2 r 103.7 r 106.7 114.8 102.0 118.1 r

 III 97.4 r 103.3 r 106.1 114.7 102.6 117.8 r

 II 97.8 r 103.3 r 105.6 114.6 102.9 117.1 r

 I 98.9 r 104.3 r 105.5 113.5 102.7 114.8 r

2018 ANNUAL 98.2 r 104.5 r 106.5 110.1 100.5 112.1 r

2018 IV 98.3 r 104.5 r 106.3 111.6 101.2 113.5 r

 III 98.0 r 105.0 r 107.2 109.9 100.0 112.2 r

 II 98.5 r 104.6 r 106.2 108.8 99.5 110.4 r

 I 98.0 r 104.0 r 106.2 110.1 101.2 112.4 r

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

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

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

unit profits, and prices, seasonally adjusted.

 Real

 Hourly hourly Unit Total Implicit

Year Labor compen- compen- Unit nonlabor unit Unit price

and produc- Hours sation sation labor costs costs profits deflator

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

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

 Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate (5)

2020 III 0.8 33.3 32.3 -3.0 -7.8 -3.8 -27.1 -10.5 220.5 4.8 

 II 4.8 r -38.3 r -41.1 30.7 r 35.4 r 24.7 r -49.2 r -4.0 r -6.7 r -4.3 

 I 0.2 -4.0 -4.2 8.1 6.8 7.9 10.3 8.7 -44.1 0.6 

2019 ANNUAL 0.6 1.6 0.9 3.7 1.9 3.1 1.9 2.7 -3.3 1.9 

2019 IV 1.3 2.6 1.2 2.5 0.1 1.2 -2.3 0.1 12.4 1.5 

 III -0.8 -0.1 0.7 0.0 -1.7 0.9 6.6 2.6 -5.3 1.6 

 II 1.0 1.0 0.1 1.3 -1.7 0.3 1.5 0.7 16.1 2.4 

 I 1.4 2.9 1.5 11.1 10.1 9.5 3.3 7.5 -30.8 1.7 

2018 ANNUAL 0.6 2.6 1.9 3.5 1.0 2.8 -1.0 1.6 6.2 2.2 

2018 IV -0.3 0.2 0.5 1.3 0.0 1.7 2.4 1.9 2.2 1.9 

 III 2.5 3.7 1.1 3.2 1.0 0.6 -1.9 -0.2 15.1 1.7 

 II -2.2 0.2 2.5 0.1 -2.0 2.4 -0.2 1.6 15.2 3.2 

 I 4.7 6.7 1.8 8.6 5.1 3.7 -4.2 1.1 8.0 1.9 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year

2020 III 1.7 -5.1 -6.8 8.9 7.5 7.0 -20.5 -1.7 17.1 0.6 

 II 1.3 r -11.8 r -12.9 9.7 r 9.2 r 8.3 r -12.6 r 1.7 -13.7 r -0.2 

 I 0.4 -0.2 -0.6 2.9 0.8 2.5 3.9 3.0 -8.9 1.5 

2019 ANNUAL 0.6 1.6 0.9 3.7 1.9 3.1 1.9 2.7 -3.3 1.9 

2019 IV 0.7 1.6 0.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 2.2 2.7 -3.9 1.8 

 III 0.3 1.0 0.7 3.3 1.6 3.0 3.4 3.1 -6.1 1.9 

 II 1.1 1.9 0.8 4.1 2.3 2.9 1.3 2.4 -1.4 1.9 

 I 0.3 1.7 1.4 3.8 2.2 3.5 0.9 2.7 -1.6 2.1 

2018 ANNUAL 0.6 2.6 1.9 3.5 1.0 2.8 -1.0 1.6 6.2 2.2 

2018 IV 1.1 2.6 1.5 3.2 1.0 2.1 -1.0 1.1 10.0 2.2 

 III 1.0 3.0 2.0 3.6 0.9 2.6 -1.8 1.2 10.1 2.3 

 II -0.2 1.9 2.1 3.5 0.8 3.7 -0.8 2.2 3.2 2.4 

 I 0.7 2.9 2.2 3.7 1.4 3.0 -0.3 1.9 1.4 1.9 

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

 Indexes 2012=100

2020 III 104.3 110.6 106.0 130.8 115.5 125.4 86.0 112.3 111.2 112.1 

 II 104.1 r 102.9 r 98.9 131.8 r 117.8 r 126.6 r 93.1 r 115.5 r 83.1 r 110.8 r

 I 102.9 116.1 112.9 123.3 109.2 119.8 110.3 116.7 84.5 112.1 

2019 ANNUAL 102.6 116.7 113.7 120.2 107.8 117.2 107.1 113.8 95.4 111.2 

2019 IV 102.8 117.3 114.1 120.9 107.4 117.6 107.6 114.3 97.8 111.9 

 III 102.5 116.6 113.7 120.1 107.4 117.2 108.2 114.2 95.0 111.5 

 II 102.7 116.6 113.6 120.1 107.9 117.0 106.5 113.5 96.3 111.0 

 I 102.4 116.3 113.5 119.7 108.4 116.9 106.1 113.3 92.7 110.4 

2018 ANNUAL 102.0 114.9 112.7 115.9 105.8 113.7 105.1 110.8 98.7 109.1 

2018 IV 102.1 115.5 113.1 116.6 105.8 114.3 105.3 111.3 101.7 109.9 

 III 102.2 115.4 113.0 116.3 105.8 113.8 104.7 110.8 101.1 109.4 

 II 101.5 114.4 112.7 115.4 105.5 113.6 105.2 110.8 97.6 108.9 

 I 102.1 114.3 112.0 115.3 106.0 112.9 105.2 110.4 94.2 108.1 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. December 8, 2020

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
-16-

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.

RELIABILITY: Productivity and cost measures are regularly revised as more complete information 

becomes available. The measures are first published within 40 days of the close of the reference period; 

revisions appear 30 days later, and second revisions after an additional 60 days. In the business sector, 

the third publication (second revision) of a quarterly index of output per hour of all persons has differed

from the initial value by between -1.4 and 1.4 index points approximately 95 percent of the time. This 

interval is based on the performance of this measure between the fourth quarter of 1995 and the second

quarter of 2020.

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 1978-2019 is based on the Consumer Price Index research series (CPI-U-RS).

(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.