For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, June 10, 2010 USDL-10-0775

Technical Information: (202) 691-5618 • dipsweb@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lpc 

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

NOTE: This release was reissued on Friday, July 9, 2010 to correct errors in measures of employment, 

hours, and productivity for agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing (NAICS 3331) 

and machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333). Other minor corrections have been made to measures for the 

following industries: NAICS 321, 3219, 482111, 491, 4911, 541921, 561311, 56172. Corrections have been 

made to tables 1 and 2; no changes were required to the text and the charts in the news release.

PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY: 

MANUFACTURING, MINING, AND SELECTED SERVICE-PROVIDING INDUSTRIES, 2008 

Labor productivity – defined as output per hour – rose in 46 percent of the 138 detailed manufacturing, mining, 

and service-providing industries studied in 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was 

down from the 62 percent that recorded productivity increases the previous year. Unit labor costs, which reflect 

the total labor costs required to produce a unit of output, declined in 30 percent of the industries, compared to 20 

percent in 2007. 

Fewer industries recorded productivity increases in 2008 than in any other year since 1988. Output rose in fewer 

industries and hours declined in more industries in 2008 compared to 2007. Output rose in 41 of the 138 

industries examined, compared to 72 in 2007; hours declined in 101, compared to 79 industries in 2007. The 

percent of industries with output increases declined each year from 2005 to 2008, with the largest drop occurring 

in 2008. (See chart 1.) The percent of industries with declining hours rose each year from 2006 to 2008, with the 

largest increase occurring in 2008. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Increasing Productivity Increasing Output Decreasing Hours

Percent of Industries

Chart 1. Percent of manufacturing, mining, and service-providing industries with increases in 

productivity and output and decreases in hours, 2005-2008 

2005 2006 2007 2008

Over the 1987 to 2008 period, labor productivity increased in 92 percent of the industries. Unit labor costs 

declined in 18 percent of the industries. (See table 2.) Chart 2 shows a more negative distribution of productivity 

growth rates for the industries studied in the most recent year compared to those for the longer-term period from 

1987 to 2008. 
- 2 - 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Number of Industries

Percent change

Chart 2. Distribution of annual percent change in output per hour, 1987-2008 and 2007-2008:

138 industries in manufacturing, mining, and services

1987 - 2008

2007 - 2008

With this release, productivity and cost measures are published for the first time for general freight trucking, local 

(NAICS 48411) and for general freight trucking (NAICS 4841). The latter combines the previously published 

measures for long-distance general freight trucking with the new measures for local freight trucking. Trends in the 

local freight trucking industry are strongly affected by business cycles and the overall economic environment. 

While productivity in this industry declined slightly in 2008, between 1994 and 2008 productivity increased at an 

average rate of 3.1 percent per year. The widespread adoption of onboard computer systems, satellite-based 

tracking, and wireless internet have contributed to substantial increases in efficiency in this industry. 

Industry labor productivity measures are updated as data become available. Productivity data through 2008 for 

industries in wholesale and retail trade were published on August 28, 2009 and can be found on the BLS Labor 

Productivity and Costs web site at www.bls.gov/lpc. 

Manufacturing

Labor productivity increased in 35 of the 86 detailed manufacturing industries in 2008, compared with 51 in 2007. 

(See table 1.) Productivity growth was highest in the computer and electronic products subsector, led by the 

computer and peripheral equipment and magnetic media manufacturing and reproduction industries. Output rose 

in only 20 percent of the industries, compared to 45 percent in 2007, while hours declined in 78 percent of the 

industries, compared to 64 percent in 2007. However, unit labor costs declined in a greater number of industries 

than in the previous year – about 23 percent of the industries in 2008, compared to 14 percent in 2007. 

Service-Providing

Labor productivity rose in slightly fewer of the measured service-providing industries in 2008 than in 2007. Led 

by wireless telecommunications carriers and employment placement agencies, labor productivity increased in 26 

of the 47 detailed service-providing industries studied in 2008, compared with 32 in 2007. Output rose in 43 

percent of the service-providing industries in 2008, compared to 64 percent in 2007, while labor hours declined in 

70 percent, compared to 49 percent in 2007. Unit labor costs declined in 43 percent of the service-providing 

industries in 2008, compared to 32 percent in 2007. 

Mining

Labor productivity in the overall mining sector fell 3.0 percent in 2008, an improvement over the 7.6 percent 

decline in 2007. Although productivity fell or showed little change in the four mining extraction industries, 

productivity grew rapidly in support activities for mining, where output rose sharply while hours increased only 

modestly. Unit labor costs fell in only one of the five mining industries in 2008. 
- 3 - 

The chart below shows the change in productivity in the largest (those with employment over 500,000) 

manufacturing and service industries and in the overall mining sector. Among these industries, engineering 

services recorded the largest productivity increase and aerospace products and parts had the largest decline. 

9.4

4.9

3.2

2.5

2.5

2.3

1.4

0.3

0.2

0.2

-0.1

-0.5

-0.8

-1.0

-1.4

-1.8

-2.0

-3.0

-4.7

-4.8

-9.1

-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Engineering services

Couriers and messengers

Wired telecommunications carriers

Janitorial services

Animal slaughtering and processing

Hair, nail, and skin care services

Printing and related support activities

Limited-service eating places

Commercial banking

General warehousing and storage

General freight trucking, long-distance

Automotive repair and maintenance

Special food services

Traveler accommodation

Postal service

Full-service restaurants

Newspaper, book, and directory publishers

Mining

Motor vehicle parts

Plastics products

Aerospace products and parts

Percent change

Chart 3. Percent change in output per hour in the largest (by employment) manufacturing, mining, 

and service-providing industries, 2007-2008

Year-to-year movements in industry productivity measures may be erratic, particularly in smaller industries. The 

annual measures based on sample data may differ from measures generated by a census of establishments in the 

industry. Annual changes in an industry’s output and use of labor may reflect cyclical changes in the economy as 

well as long-term trends. As a result, long-term productivity changes tend to be more reliable indicators of

industry performance than year-to-year changes.
Technical Note

Labor Productivity: The industry labor productivity measures describe the relationship between industry output 

and the labor time involved in its production. They show the changes from period to period in the amount of 

goods and services produced per hour. Although the labor productivity measures relate output to hours of all 

persons in an industry, they do not measure the specific contribution of labor or any other factor of production. 

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

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

services (in real terms) provided for sale outside the industry. Real industry output is usually derived by deflating 

nominal sales or values of production using BLS price indexes, but for some industries it is measured by physical 

quantities of output. For manufacturing industries, industry output reflects sectoral value of production, derived 

by adjusting shipments for changes in inventories and removing intra-industry transactions. 

Industry output measures are constructed primarily using data from the economic censuses and annual surveys of 

the Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, together with information on price changes primarily from 

BLS. Output measures for some mining and utilities industries are based on physical quantity data from the 

Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, while output measures for some transportation 

industries are based on physical quantity data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of 

Transportation. Other data sources for some industries include the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of 

the Interior; the U.S. Postal Service; the Postal Rate Commission; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 

Labor Hours: The primary source of data on industry employment and hours is the BLS Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) survey. The CES provides monthly data on the number of total and production or nonsupervisory 

worker jobs held by wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments, as well as data on the average weekly 

hours of production or nonsupervisory workers in those establishments. CES data are supplemented or further 

disaggregated for some industries using data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(QCEW), the Bureau of the Census, or other sources. Data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) also 

supplement the CES data. CPS data are used to estimate employment and hours of self-employed and unpaid 

family workers in each industry. Data from the CPS, together with the CES data, are also used to estimate the 

historical average weekly hours of nonproduction or supervisory workers for each industry. Other sources of 

employment and hours data for some service industries include the Association of American Railroads, the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Postal Service. Hours of all persons in an industry are treated as 

homogeneous and are directly aggregated.

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 industry labor compensation by an index of real industry 

output. Unit labor costs also describe the relationship between compensation per hour and real output per hour 

(labor productivity). Increases in hourly compensation increase unit labor costs; increases in labor productivity 

offset compensation increases and lower unit labor costs.

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 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.

Revisions: This news release incorporates data from the Census Bureau’s 2007 Economic Census and the annual 

benchmark revision of the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey published in February 2010. 

Although labor productivity and cost data for manufacturing industries were published on a NAICS 2007 basis in 
December 2009, this is the first release of productivity measures for the service-providing and mining industries 

classified according to the 2007 NAICS. Series for some industries may have changed as a result. All industry 

labor productivity and cost series are now on a NAICS 2007 basis. 

The mining industry measures have been revised to include, for the first time, the output of nonemployer firms 

and the employment, hours, and labor compensation of self-employed and unpaid family workers. Although 

small, the revision reflects a more complete accounting of the economic activity in each industry, and improves 

consistency with the measures for other sectors that account for the activity of these firms and workers.

All of the measures for 2008 in this release are preliminary and subject to revision. 

Additional Information: Measures for the two added industries were developed using standard BLS methods as 

described above. While the rates of change reported by BLS in this news release are rounded to one decimal 

place, all industry productivity percent changes are calculated using index numbers to three decimal places.

Three industries that were previously available on the BLS web site are also included in this release: coinoperated laundries and drycleaners (NAICS 812310); drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) 

(NAICS 812320); and linen and uniform supply (NAICS 81233). 

Industry productivity and related indexes and rates of change can be accessed online by visiting the Labor 

Productivity and Costs web site at http://www.bls.gov/lpc. Levels of industry employment, hours, labor 

compensation, and value of production, and the implicit price deflator for output for these industries are available 

upon request by calling the Division of Industry Productivity Studies (202-691-5618) or by sending a request by 

e-mail to dipsweb@bls.gov. Information in this report will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals 

upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5618; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339. 

To subscribe to the industry productivity program’s electronic notification service, send an e-mail to 

dipsnews@bls.gov with the word “subscribe” in the subject line.
2008 

NAICS Industry Employment Output Labor Unit labor

code (thousands) per hour Output Hours compensation costs

Mining Industries

21 Mining 725 -3.0 0.9 4.0 13.4 12.4

211 Oil and gas extraction 161 -9.0 1.5 11.6 17.7 15.9

2111 Oil and gas extraction 161 -9.0 1.5 11.6 17.7 15.9

212 Mining, except oil and gas 230 -0.7 -1.4 -0.7 5.2 6.7

2121 Coal mining 82 -5.7 2.2 8.4 12.2 9.7

2122 Metal ore mining 40 -3.4 6.9 10.6 16.1 8.6

2123 Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying 108 0.1 -10.7 -10.8 -6.8 4.4

213 Support activities for mining 334 23.8 29.3 4.4 15.0 -11.0

2131 Support activities for mining 334 23.8 29.3 4.4 15.0 -11.0

Utilities

2211 Power generation and supply 404 -4.1 -1.6 2.6 3.7 5.4

2212 Natural gas distribution 107 0.8 1.0 0.2 3.5 2.5

Manufacturing

311 Food 1511 -0.4 -0.6 -0.1 1.7 2.3

3111 Animal food 53 -6.0 -0.6 5.8 3.0 3.6

3112 Grain and oilseed milling 62 -3.7 1.4 5.3 4.0 2.5

3113 Sugar and confectionery products 74 -7.7 -8.2 -0.6 -5.5 3.0

3114 Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty 173 -2.3 -2.5 -0.1 0.6 3.1

3115 Dairy products 132 7.9 2.3 -5.2 5.6 3.2

3116 Animal slaughtering and processing 514 2.5 1.6 -0.9 0.4 -1.2

3117 Seafood product preparation and packaging 39 -12.8 -13.6 -1.0 -5.2 9.8

3118 Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing 300 -7.5 -5.1 2.6 5.0 10.7

3119 Other food products 164 1.4 -0.1 -1.5 0.4 0.5

312 Beverages and tobacco products 200 -2.5 -6.9 -4.5 1.6 9.1

3121 Beverages 179 0.1 -5.3 -5.4 2.9 8.6

3122 Tobacco and tobacco products 22 -13.0 -10.6 2.7 -4.6 6.7

313 Textile mills 161 -1.6 -15.6 -14.2 -12.6 3.5

3131 Fiber, yarn, and thread mills 37 1.3 -13.4 -14.5 -14.8 -1.6

3132 Fabric mills 72 5.3 -13.5 -17.8 -12.0 1.7

3133 Textile and fabric finishing mills 52 -14.7 -22.2 -8.8 -11.8 13.3

314 Textile product mills 163 -3.2 -8.6 -5.7 -5.2 3.8

3141 Textile furnishings mills 82 -2.6 -12.6 -10.2 -4.9 8.8

3149 Other textile product mills 81 -0.5 -1.1 -0.6 -5.4 -4.4

315 Apparel 221 -1.8 -13.7 -12.1 -10.4 3.9

3151 Apparel knitting mills 32 -3.4 -15.0 -12.0 -15.2 -0.2

3152 Cut and sew apparel 172 -1.6 -13.2 -11.9 -9.2 4.6

3159 Accessories and other apparel 17 0.0 -14.6 -14.6 -13.1 1.8

316 Leather and allied products 36 3.6 -5.7 -9.0 -3.1 2.8

3161 Leather and hide tanning and finishing 5 -2.7 -12.3 -9.9 -0.5 13.5

3162 Footwear 17 18.1 11.6 -5.5 2.6 -8.1

3169 Other leather products 15 -4.8 -16.5 -12.2 -8.4 9.7

321 Wood products 486 -2.0 -14.3 -12.5 -11.3 3.4

3211 Sawmills and wood preservation 106 3.5 -9.4 -12.5 -5.6 4.2

3212 Plywood and engineered wood products 90 -4.0 -18.3 -14.9 -15.6 3.3

3219 Other wood products 290 -3.4 -14.6 -11.6 -11.7 3.4

322 Paper and paper products 446 -0.6 -4.3 -3.7 -1.0 3.5

3221 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills 127 0.5 -4.1 -4.6 -0.8 3.4

3222 Converted paper products 319 -1.2 -4.5 -3.4 -1.0 3.6

323 Printing and related support activities 623 1.4 -6.0 -7.3 -6.3 -0.4

3231 Printing and related support activities 623 1.4 -6.0 -7.3 -6.3 -0.4

324 Petroleum and coal products 118 -3.0 0.6 3.7 0.0 -0.6

3241 Petroleum and coal products 118 -3.0 0.6 3.7 0.0 -0.6

325 Chemicals 855 -6.7 -9.6 -3.1 -0.4 10.1

3251 Basic chemicals 153 -15.1 -12.3 3.4 1.9 16.1

3252 Resin, rubber, and artificial fibers 104 -8.5 -13.2 -5.2 -1.0 14.0

3253 Agricultural chemicals 37 -1.1 -8.6 -7.6 1.5 11.0

3254 Pharmaceuticals and medicines 292 -1.3 -4.2 -2.9 -0.6 3.8

3255 Paints, coatings, and adhesives 62 -4.0 -9.1 -5.3 -1.8 8.0

3256 Soaps, cleaning compounds, and toiletries 112 -5.6 -9.6 -4.3 1.2 12.0

3259 Other chemical products and preparations 96 0.8 -6.0 -6.7 -5.4 0.6

326 Plastics and rubber products 734 -5.3 -9.2 -4.2 -4.9 4.8

3261 Plastics products 589 -4.8 -8.8 -4.2 -5.2 3.9

3262 Rubber products 145 -7.5 -11.4 -4.2 -3.7 8.7

Table 1. Percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 2007-2008

Percent change, 2007-2008
2008 

NAICS Industry Employment Output Labor Unit labor

code (thousands) per hour Output Hours compensation costs

327 Nonmetallic mineral products 481 -4.5 -11.9 -7.7 -4.0 9.0

3271 Clay products and refractories 57 -1.4 -9.4 -8.1 -7.7 1.8

3272 Glass and glass products 104 -4.0 -3.5 0.5 1.1 4.8

3273 Cement and concrete products 223 -7.1 -17.6 -11.3 -5.4 14.8

3274 Lime and gypsum products 18 -1.7 -7.2 -5.6 -1.7 5.8

3279 Other nonmetallic mineral products 79 1.2 -6.1 -7.2 -4.8 1.4

331 Primary metals 443 4.9 0.0 -4.7 2.3 2.3

3311 Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy production 100 8.5 6.7 -1.7 7.5 0.8

3312 Steel products from purchased steel 62 -4.6 -7.9 -3.5 6.9 16.1

3313 Alumina and aluminum production 66 -1.6 -9.4 -8.0 1.6 12.2

3314 Other nonferrous metal production 67 4.6 2.1 -2.4 0.5 -1.6

3315 Foundries 148 -7.1 -13.4 -6.8 -3.7 11.2

332 Fabricated metal products 1550 1.4 -3.2 -4.6 0.7 4.1

3321 Forging and stamping 107 0.1 -3.6 -3.7 1.7 5.5

3322 Cutlery and hand tools 49 -3.3 -11.8 -8.8 -2.2 10.9

3323 Architectural and structural metals 412 -0.9 -4.5 -3.7 0.0 4.8

3324 Boilers, tanks, and shipping containers 98 -2.1 -2.4 -0.3 8.7 11.3

3325 Hardware 30 7.7 -13.8 -19.9 -6.0 9.0

3326 Spring and wire products 53 4.3 -6.6 -10.4 -3.3 3.5

3327 Machine shops and threaded products 370 3.7 -0.9 -4.4 1.0 1.9

3328 Coating, engraving, and heat treating metals 145 1.2 -0.1 -1.3 -1.2 -1.2

3329 Other fabricated metal products 286 4.0 -2.0 -5.8 0.9 2.9

333 Machinery 1201 -1.4 -2.0 -0.6 0.9 2.9

3331 Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery 244 2.2 4.0 1.7 5.9 1.8

3332 Industrial machinery 124 -9.7 -13.6 -4.4 -3.8 11.3

3333 Commercial and service industry machinery 105 6.3 -0.4 -6.2 1.0 1.4

3334 HVAC and commercial refrigeration equipment 151 -0.5 -2.9 -2.4 1.5 4.5

3335 Metalworking machinery 195 0.1 0.5 0.4 -2.8 -3.3

3336 Turbine and power transmission equipment 106 -2.7 -0.1 2.7 5.2 5.3

3339 Other general purpose machinery 277 -4.3 -3.9 0.4 0.3 4.4

334 Computer and electronic products 1255 6.7 6.9 0.3 -3.0 -9.3

3341 Computer and peripheral equipment 185 32.8 35.8 2.2 7.8 -20.6

3342 Communications equipment 130 -4.7 -2.4 2.4 -7.7 -5.5

3343 Audio and video equipment 28 -15.7 -20.2 -5.3 -13.1 8.8

3344 Semiconductors and electronic components 434 4.4 3.1 -1.3 -6.8 -9.6

3345 Electronic instruments 444 2.3 4.3 2.0 -0.2 -4.3

3346 Magnetic media manufacturing and reproduction 35 19.3 3.7 -13.1 -5.7 -9.0

335 Electrical equipment and appliances 429 -2.8 -3.3 -0.5 1.4 4.9

3351 Electric lighting equipment 59 2.0 -3.1 -5.0 -0.2 3.0

3352 Household appliances 71 -3.9 -10.9 -7.3 -6.0 5.4

3353 Electrical equipment 161 -4.2 -0.1 4.2 4.4 4.5

3359 Other electrical equipment and components 138 -2.3 -2.6 -0.3 1.8 4.6

336 Transportation equipment 1622 -5.5 -12.7 -7.7 -4.2 9.8

3361 Motor vehicles 192 -9.3 -19.9 -11.7 -10.4 11.8

3362 Motor vehicle bodies and trailers 142 -5.8 -21.9 -17.1 -15.5 8.2

3363 Motor vehicle parts 550 -4.7 -17.1 -13.0 -9.9 8.7

3364 Aerospace products and parts 508 -9.1 -6.9 2.4 3.3 10.9

3365 Railroad rolling stock 29 16.7 18.0 1.1 2.1 -13.4

3366 Ship and boat building 157 12.9 2.9 -8.9 5.4 2.5

3369 Other transportation equipment 44 3.8 9.0 5.0 2.9 -5.6

337 Furniture and related products 513 3.8 -8.9 -12.2 -9.2 -0.3

3371 Household and institutional furniture 335 4.8 -10.1 -14.2 -10.7 -0.7

3372 Office furniture and fixtures 133 0.9 -5.1 -5.9 -5.7 -0.6

3379 Other furniture-related products 45 2.5 -13.6 -15.7 -11.5 2.4

339 Miscellaneous manufacturing 699 1.6 1.1 -0.4 -0.2 -1.4

3391 Medical equipment and supplies 324 2.7 6.2 3.4 2.1 -3.9

3399 Other miscellaneous manufacturing 375 -0.6 -4.3 -3.7 -2.8 1.6

Transportation and Warehousing

481 Air transportation 427 -1.4 -3.1 -1.8 -0.6 2.6

482111 Line-haul railroads 184 -1.0 -1.0 0.1 0.8 1.8

4841 General freight trucking 1196 0.2 -3.1 -3.3 -4.3 -1.2

48411 General freight trucking, local 315 -0.1 -5.8 -5.7 -6.2 -0.4

48412 General freight trucking, long-distance 881 -0.1 -2.4 -2.3 -3.6 -1.2

48421 Used household and office goods moving 95 6.5 -5.7 -11.4 -4.4 1.3

491 Postal service 747 -1.4 -4.9 -3.5 -5.1 -0.3

4911 Postal service 747 -1.4 -4.9 -3.5 -5.1 -0.3

Table 1. Percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 2007-2008

Percent change, 2007-2008
2008 

NAICS Industry Employment Output Labor Unit labor

code (thousands) per hour Output Hours compensation costs

492 Couriers and messengers 612 4.9 -6.2 -10.5 -5.6 0.7

493 Warehousing and storage 681 0.3 4.1 3.8 3.1 -1.0

4931 Warehousing and storage 681 0.3 4.1 3.8 3.1 -1.0

49311 General warehousing and storage 574 0.2 4.6 4.4 2.7 -1.8

49312 Refrigerated warehousing and storage 49 3.0 0.6 -2.3 3.8 3.2

Information

511 Publishing 912 1.7 -1.3 -2.9 1.3 2.6

5111 Newspaper, book, and directory publishers 648 -2.0 -6.1 -4.1 -2.8 3.4

5112 Software publishers 265 4.3 4.2 -0.1 6.7 2.4

51213 Motion picture and video exhibition 133 -3.3 -2.2 1.1 -0.8 1.5

515 Broadcasting, except internet 328 2.4 0.3 -2.0 -1.4 -1.7

5151 Radio and television broadcasting 241 0.0 -1.0 -1.0 -4.0 -3.1

5152 Cable and other subscription programming 88 6.3 1.8 -4.2 7.0 5.1

5171 Wired telecommunications carriers 683 3.2 2.9 -0.3 0.9 -1.9

5172 Wireless telecommunications carriers 203 18.8 12.8 -5.1 5.0 -6.9

Finance and Insurance

52211 Commercial banking 1358 0.2 0.7 0.5 -2.4 -3.0

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

532111 Passenger car rental 124 4.9 -4.0 -8.4 -9.0 -5.3

53212 Truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing 60 -4.7 -5.5 -0.8 3.1 9.1

53223 Video tape and disc rental 109 -6.9 -10.3 -3.7 -11.3 -1.1

Professional and Technical Services

541213 Tax preparation services 152 -3.3 1.2 4.7 0.7 -0.5

54131 Architectural services 234 4.6 1.2 -3.2 -1.1 -2.3

54133 Engineering services 969 9.4 9.6 0.1 4.6 -4.5

54181 Advertising agencies 195 4.6 3.0 -1.5 1.3 -1.7

541921 Photography studios, portrait 80 3.3 0.2 -3.1 -1.2 -1.4

Administrative and Waste Services

561311 Employment placement agencies 260 16.7 4.8 -10.2 -1.4 -5.9

56151 Travel agencies 119 1.4 -1.2 -2.6 0.3 1.6

56172 Janitorial services 1225 2.5 2.9 0.3 4.7 1.8

Health Care and Social Assistance

6215 Medical and diagnostic laboratories 227 11.8 8.9 -2.5 3.4 -5.0

621511 Medical laboratories 152 9.4 7.1 -2.1 5.1 -1.9

621512 Diagnostic imaging centers 75 15.5 11.4 -3.5 0.0 -10.2

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

71311 Amusement and theme parks 138 0.7 -1.0 -1.7 8.1 9.2

71395 Bowling centers 76 1.6 -4.2 -5.7 -2.0 2.3

Accommodation and Food Services

72 Accommodation and food services 11742 -0.9 -1.6 -0.7 2.3 4.0

721 Accommodation 1900 -0.8 -2.2 -1.4 1.1 3.4

7211 Traveler accommodation 1825 -1.0 -2.3 -1.3 1.0 3.4

722 Food services and drinking places 9842 -0.8 -1.4 -0.6 2.7 4.1

7221 Full-service restaurants 4617 -1.8 -3.2 -1.4 2.1 5.5

7222 Limited-service eating places 4178 0.3 0.5 0.2 3.3 2.7

7223 Special food services 686 -0.8 -0.9 0.0 3.8 4.7

7224 Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) 362 -2.0 -2.3 -0.4 1.2 3.6

Other Services

8111 Automotive repair and maintenance 1115 -0.5 -5.1 -4.6 -4.5 0.7

81142 Reupholstery and furniture repair 25 -3.5 -6.2 -2.8 -2.7 3.7

81211 Hair, nail, and skin care services 917 2.3 0.2 -2.1 1.7 1.5

81221 Funeral homes and funeral services 108 -5.1 -0.8 4.5 2.2 3.1

8123 Drycleaning and laundry services 370 0.6 -0.7 -1.3 0.2 0.9

812310 Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners 49 -4.4 -2.5 2.0 -3.4 -0.9

812320 Drycleaning and laundry services 183 2.0 -2.3 -4.2 -2.1 0.2

81233 Linen and uniform supply 137 0.0 1.3 1.3 3.0 1.7

81292 Photofinishing 24 7.0 -2.2 -8.6 -8.5 -6.5

Percent change, 2007-2008

Table 1. Percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 2007-2008
NAICS Industry Output Labor Unit labor

code per hour Output Hours compensation costs

Mining Industries

21 Mining -0.4 -0.2 0.2 5.4 5.7

211 Oil and gas extraction 0.5 -0.8 -1.3 5.7 6.5

2111 Oil and gas extraction 0.5 -0.8 -1.3 5.7 6.5

212 Mining, except oil and gas 2.0 0.8 -1.1 2.3 1.4

2121 Coal mining 2.4 0.1 -2.3 0.7 0.6

2122 Metal ore mining 1.9 2.2 0.4 5.0 2.7

2123 Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying 1.0 0.6 -0.4 3.4 2.8

213 Support activities for mining 3.1 5.6 2.4 9.0 3.2

2131 Support activities for mining 3.1 5.6 2.4 9.0 3.2

Utilities

2211 Power generation and supply 2.4 1.1 -1.3 2.8 1.6

2212 Natural gas distribution 2.8 1.3 -1.5 3.3 2.0

Manufacturing

311 Food 1.1 1.4 0.3 3.1 1.7

3111 Animal food 2.7 2.0 -0.7 3.4 1.3

3112 Grain and oilseed milling 2.1 1.3 -0.8 2.2 0.9

3113 Sugar and confectionery products 0.8 -0.1 -0.9 1.8 1.9

3114 Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty 1.6 1.3 -0.3 2.9 1.5

3115 Dairy products 1.6 1.0 -0.6 3.2 2.2

3116 Animal slaughtering and processing 0.9 2.3 1.4 3.8 1.5

3117 Seafood product preparation and packaging 0.9 0.1 -0.8 3.0 2.8

3118 Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing 0.4 0.3 -0.2 2.4 2.1

3119 Other food products 0.5 2.0 1.6 4.2 2.1

312 Beverages and tobacco products 0.6 -0.3 -0.9 1.7 1.9

3121 Beverages 1.9 1.5 -0.4 2.3 0.8

3122 Tobacco and tobacco products 0.5 -3.1 -3.6 -0.6 2.6

313 Textile mills 3.5 -2.6 -5.9 -2.5 0.0

3131 Fiber, yarn, and thread mills 4.2 -1.5 -5.4 -2.0 -0.6

3132 Fabric mills 4.8 -2.6 -7.1 -2.7 -0.1

3133 Textile and fabric finishing mills 0.6 -3.6 -4.2 -2.6 1.0

314 Textile product mills 0.8 -1.1 -1.9 0.9 2.0

3141 Textile furnishings mills 0.7 -1.5 -2.2 0.2 1.7

3149 Other textile product mills 1.4 -0.2 -1.5 1.9 2.1

315 Apparel -1.3 -8.1 -6.9 -5.3 3.1

3151 Apparel knitting mills -0.6 -6.8 -6.2 -6.0 0.8

3152 Cut and sew apparel -1.4 -8.5 -7.2 -5.2 3.6

3159 Accessories and other apparel -2.6 -6.9 -4.4 -4.3 2.8

316 Leather and allied products 2.2 -4.5 -6.6 -2.8 1.8

3161 Leather and hide tanning and finishing 0.7 -4.8 -5.4 -2.5 2.4

3162 Footwear 2.5 -5.6 -7.9 -4.3 1.3

3169 Other leather products 1.5 -3.5 -4.9 -1.1 2.5

321 Wood products 1.3 0.1 -1.3 2.5 2.5

3211 Sawmills and wood preservation 2.5 0.1 -2.3 1.4 1.3

3212 Plywood and engineered wood products 0.7 -0.1 -0.8 2.2 2.3

3219 Other wood products 1.1 0.1 -1.0 3.2 3.0

322 Paper and paper products 2.0 0.2 -1.7 1.5 1.3

3221 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills 3.0 -0.2 -3.1 0.5 0.6

3222 Converted paper products 1.5 0.5 -1.0 2.4 1.9

323 Printing and related support activities 1.5 0.1 -1.3 1.8 1.6

3231 Printing and related support activities 1.5 0.1 -1.3 1.8 1.6

324 Petroleum and coal products 2.6 1.2 -1.3 3.9 2.7

3241 Petroleum and coal products 2.6 1.2 -1.3 3.9 2.7

325 Chemicals 1.8 1.0 -0.7 3.4 2.3

3251 Basic chemicals 2.7 0.5 -2.1 2.1 1.6

3252 Resin, rubber, and artificial fibers 2.2 0.5 -1.6 2.0 1.5

3253 Agricultural chemicals 2.6 0.5 -2.1 1.9 1.4

3254 Pharmaceuticals and medicines 0.7 3.0 2.4 6.6 3.4

3255 Paints, coatings, and adhesives 1.0 -0.3 -1.4 2.6 2.9

3256 Soaps, cleaning compounds, and toiletries 3.0 2.3 -0.7 3.1 0.8

3259 Other chemical products and preparations 2.4 0.0 -2.3 1.5 1.4

326 Plastics and rubber products 2.0 1.7 -0.3 3.0 1.3

3261 Plastics products 1.9 2.0 0.1 3.5 1.4

3262 Rubber products 2.1 0.4 -1.7 1.4 1.0

Table 2. Average annual percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 1987-2008

Average annual percent change, 1987-2008
NAICS Industry Output Labor Unit labor

code per hour Output Hours compensation costs

327 Nonmetallic mineral products 1.2 0.7 -0.5 2.5 1.8

3271 Clay products and refractories 1.3 -1.1 -2.4 0.2 1.4

3272 Glass and glass products 2.0 0.5 -1.5 1.2 0.7

3273 Cement and concrete products 0.4 1.1 0.6 3.6 2.5

3274 Lime and gypsum products 1.0 0.0 -1.0 3.1 3.1

3279 Other nonmetallic mineral products 1.7 1.5 -0.2 3.2 1.6

331 Primary metals 2.6 0.5 -2.1 1.2 0.7

3311 Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy production 5.2 2.5 -2.6 0.6 -1.8

3312 Steel products from purchased steel -0.9 -1.6 -0.7 1.7 3.4

3313 Alumina and aluminum production 2.5 -0.1 -2.5 1.1 1.1

3314 Other nonferrous metal production 1.5 -0.9 -2.3 2.3 3.3

3315 Foundries 2.0 0.1 -1.9 1.2 1.2

332 Fabricated metal products 1.6 1.5 -0.2 3.1 1.6

3321 Forging and stamping 2.9 1.8 -1.0 2.6 0.8

3322 Cutlery and hand tools 1.4 -0.9 -2.3 1.5 2.5

3323 Architectural and structural metals 1.1 1.8 0.7 4.2 2.3

3324 Boilers, tanks, and shipping containers 0.8 0.3 -0.5 2.3 2.0

3325 Hardware 1.3 -2.6 -3.8 -0.9 1.7

3326 Spring and wire products 2.8 0.7 -2.0 1.9 1.1

3327 Machine shops and threaded products 2.5 3.3 0.8 4.6 1.3

3328 Coating, engraving, and heat treating metals 3.0 3.4 0.3 3.7 0.4

3329 Other fabricated metal products 1.7 0.9 -0.8 2.1 1.2

333 Machinery 2.5 1.9 -0.6 2.5 0.6

3331 Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery 3.0 3.6 0.6 3.6 -0.1

3332 Industrial machinery 2.5 1.6 -0.9 2.6 1.0

3333 Commercial and service industry machinery 1.6 -0.2 -1.7 0.6 0.8

3334 HVAC and commercial refrigeration equipment 2.1 1.7 -0.4 2.5 0.8

3335 Metalworking machinery 2.1 0.6 -1.5 1.7 1.1

3336 Turbine and power transmission equipment 2.0 1.8 -0.2 1.9 0.0

3339 Other general purpose machinery 2.6 1.9 -0.7 3.0 1.1

334 Computer and electronic products 12.2 9.8 -2.2 1.4 -7.7

3341 Computer and peripheral equipment 24.8 20.1 -3.8 -2.1 -18.5

3342 Communications equipment 7.4 4.5 -2.7 0.8 -3.5

3343 Audio and video equipment 3.9 0.3 -3.5 0.6 0.3

3344 Semiconductors and electronic components 16.8 15.2 -1.4 2.3 -11.2

3345 Electronic instruments 4.4 2.5 -1.8 2.2 -0.3

3346 Magnetic media manufacturing and reproduction 3.5 2.0 -1.5 1.2 -0.8

335 Electrical equipment and appliances 2.7 0.5 -2.1 1.6 1.1

3351 Electric lighting equipment 2.1 0.3 -1.8 1.8 1.4

3352 Household appliances 4.0 0.9 -3.0 -0.1 -1.0

3353 Electrical equipment 2.8 0.6 -2.1 1.6 1.0

3359 Other electrical equipment and components 2.0 0.2 -1.8 2.2 2.0

336 Transportation equipment 2.9 1.4 -1.4 1.3 -0.2

3361 Motor vehicles 3.4 1.2 -2.2 0.9 -0.3

3362 Motor vehicle bodies and trailers 1.3 1.2 0.0 3.9 2.7

3363 Motor vehicle parts 2.9 2.0 -0.8 1.2 -0.8

3364 Aerospace products and parts 1.7 -0.5 -2.1 0.7 1.2

3365 Railroad rolling stock 5.2 5.9 0.7 4.2 -1.6

3366 Ship and boat building 2.2 1.3 -0.9 2.8 1.5

3369 Other transportation equipment 6.8 7.2 0.4 5.0 -2.1

337 Furniture and related products 1.9 0.6 -1.2 2.4 1.7

3371 Household and institutional furniture 1.8 0.3 -1.5 2.2 1.9

3372 Office furniture and fixtures 1.8 0.9 -0.9 2.5 1.6

3379 Other furniture-related products 2.3 1.8 -0.5 2.8 1.0

339 Miscellaneous manufacturing 3.0 3.0 0.0 4.5 1.4

3391 Medical equipment and supplies 3.6 5.0 1.3 5.9 0.9

3399 Other miscellaneous manufacturing 2.2 1.3 -0.9 3.2 1.9

Transportation and Warehousing

481 Air transportation 2.9 3.1 0.2 2.9 -0.2

482111 Line-haul railroads 4.2 2.2 -1.9 1.2 -1.0

4841 General freight trucking 2/ 1.3 2.5 1.1 3.9 1.4

48411 General freight trucking, local 2/ 3.1 4.0 0.8 4.3 0.4

48412 General freight trucking, long-distance 1.3 2.8 1.5 3.0 0.2

48421 Used household and office goods moving -0.6 -0.2 0.4 2.5 2.7

491 Postal service 0.9 0.7 -0.2 4.1 3.3

4911 Postal service 0.9 0.7 -0.2 4.1 3.3

Table 2. Average annual percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 1987-2008

Average annual percent change, 1987-2008
NAICS Industry Output Labor Unit labor

code per hour Output Hours compensation costs

492 Couriers and messengers -0.2 2.2 2.4 4.8 2.5

493 Warehousing and storage 1/ 2.7 6.1 3.4 6.1 -0.1

4931 Warehousing and storage 1/ 2.7 6.1 3.4 6.1 -0.1

49311 General warehousing and storage 1/ 5.0 8.5 3.3 6.7 -1.6

49312 Refrigerated warehousing and storage 1/ -0.3 3.0 3.2 4.8 1.8

Information

511 Publishing 3.8 4.1 0.3 5.7 1.5

5111 Newspaper, book, and directory publishers 0.0 -1.0 -1.0 3.3 4.4

5112 Software publishers 14.4 21.9 6.5 12.3 -7.9

51213 Motion picture and video exhibition 1.2 1.9 0.7 3.7 1.7

515 Broadcasting, except internet 1.6 2.7 1.1 5.0 2.2

5151 Radio and television broadcasting 0.4 0.6 0.1 4.0 3.4

5152 Cable and other subscription programming 3.6 8.3 4.5 10.4 2.0

5171 Wired telecommunications carriers 4.4 3.8 -0.5 2.9 -0.9

5172 Wireless telecommunications carriers 9.5 22.4 11.9 15.6 -5.6

Finance and Insurance

52211 Commercial banking 3.5 3.5 0.0 5.5 1.9

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

532111 Passenger car rental 1.8 2.9 1.1 5.7 2.8

53212 Truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing 3.7 2.9 -0.8 3.6 0.6

53223 Video tape and disc rental 4.2 4.4 0.2 3.0 -1.3

Professional and Technical Services

541213 Tax preparation services 0.7 3.3 2.6 4.7 1.3

54131 Architectural services 1.5 3.9 2.3 6.0 2.1

54133 Engineering services 1.8 4.0 2.2 6.9 2.7

54181 Advertising agencies 2.0 2.4 0.4 4.9 2.5

541921 Photography studios, portrait 0.1 2.3 2.2 4.7 2.3

Administrative and Waste Services

561311 Employment placement agencies 2/ 7.6 8.9 1.2 7.3 -1.5

56151 Travel agencies 6.2 5.1 -1.0 4.1 -1.0

56172 Janitorial services 2.2 4.2 2.0 6.0 1.7

Health Care and Social Assistance

6215 Medical and diagnostic laboratories 2/ 4.3 7.4 3.0 6.1 -1.2

621511 Medical laboratories 2/ 3.6 6.1 2.4 5.4 -0.7

621512 Diagnostic imaging centers 2/ 5.0 9.4 4.2 7.8 -1.5

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

71311 Amusement and theme parks 0.1 3.0 2.9 6.6 3.5

71395 Bowling centers 0.4 -1.5 -1.9 1.3 2.8

Accommodation and Food Services

72 Accommodation and food services 0.9 2.4 1.5 5.5 3.0

721 Accommodation 1.7 2.9 1.2 5.3 2.4

7211 Traveler accommodation 1.7 2.9 1.2 5.3 2.3

722 Food services and drinking places 0.6 2.3 1.6 5.5 3.2

7221 Full-service restaurants 0.6 2.3 1.7 6.4 4.0

7222 Limited-service eating places 0.6 2.5 1.8 5.3 2.8

7223 Special food services 1.7 2.9 1.1 4.1 1.2

7224 Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) -0.4 -0.6 -0.1 2.4 2.9

Other Services

8111 Automotive repair and maintenance 1.0 1.6 0.6 4.0 2.4

81142 Reupholstery and furniture repair -0.2 -2.0 -1.8 1.1 3.2

81211 Hair, nail, and skin care services 2.3 3.1 0.8 5.3 2.1

81221 Funeral homes and funeral services -0.5 -0.2 0.4 4.3 4.5

8123 Drycleaning and laundry services 0.9 0.6 -0.3 3.1 2.5

812310 Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners 1.9 0.7 -1.2 3.1 2.5

812320 Drycleaning and laundry services 0.6 -0.6 -1.2 1.8 2.4

81233 Linen and uniform supply 0.3 1.7 1.3 4.6 2.8

81292 Photofinishing 0.7 -4.8 -5.4 -2.3 2.6

1/ For NAICS industries 493, 4931, 49311, and 49312, average annual percent changes are for 1992-2008.

2/ For NAICS industries 4841, 48411, 561311, 6215, 621511, and 621512, average annual percent changes are for 1994-2008.

Average annual percent change, 1987-2008

Table 2. Average annual percent change in output per hour, output, hours, compensation, and unit labor costs, 1987-2008