Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL 21-1929 

8:30 a.m. (ET) Thursday, November 4, 2021 

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 2021, Preliminary

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 5.0 percent in the third quarter of 2021, the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 1.7 percent and hours worked 

increased 7.0 percent. This is the lowest rate of quarterly productivity growth since the second quarter of 

1981, when the measure decreased 5.1 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are 

seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021, nonfarm 

business sector labor productivity decreased 0.5 percent. The four-quarter rate is the lowest rate since 

the third quarter of 2011, when the measure also declined 0.5 percent (See chart 1 and table A1.)

Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased at an annual rate of 8.3 percent in the third 

quarter of 2021, reflecting a 2.9-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 5.0-percent decrease in 

productivity. Unit labor costs increased 4.8 percent over the last four quarters. (See chart 2 and table 

A1.) 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. 

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 third 

quarter of 2021 is the fifth consecutive quarter with increases in both output and hours worked, 

following historic declines in those measures in the second quarter of 2020. The output index is now 1.8 

percent above the level seen in the fourth quarter of 2019, the last quarter not affected by the COVID-19 

pandemic, while the hours worked index remains 1.0 percent below its fourth quarter 2019 level. (See 

chart 3 and tables A1 and 2.) 

Chart 1. Labor productivity, nonfarm business, 2017Q1 – 2021Q3

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

From previous quarter, annual rate

From same quarter a year ago

Percent change Percent change

Chart 2. Unit labor costs, nonfarm business, 2017Q1 – 2021Q3

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

From previous quarter, annual rate

From same quarter a year ago
-2-

The nonfarm business labor productivity index is 2.9 percent higher in third-quarter 2021 than it was in 

fourth-quarter 2019, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 1.6 percent during the pandemic 

period of fourth quarter 2019 through third quarter 2021. This rate is slightly higher than the 1.4-percent 

average annual growth rate during the previous business cycle—from 2007 to 2019—but below the 

long-term average rate since 1947 of 2.1 percent. 

Manufacturing sector labor productivity decreased 1.0 percent in the third quarter of 2021, as output 

increased 5.7 percent and hours worked increased 6.7 percent. In the durable manufacturing sector, 

productivity increased 1.4 percent, with a 9.9-percent increase in output and an 8.4-percent increase in 

hours worked. Nondurable manufacturing sector productivity decreased 2.6 percent, as output (+1.3 

percent) grew slower than hours worked (+4.0 percent). Total manufacturing sector productivity 

increased 2.4 percent from the same quarter a year ago. (See tables A1, 3, 4, and 5.) 

Manufacturing sector output is now 1.1 percent above its level in the fourth quarter of 2019, the last 

quarter not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours worked in manufacturing remain 3.3 percent 

below the fourth-quarter 2019 level. The manufacturing labor productivity index is now 4.6 percent 

higher than in fourth-quarter 2019, reflecting growth at a 2.6-percent annual rate during the pandemic 

period of fourth quarter 2019 through third quarter 2021. This rate is much higher than the 0.2-percent 

average annual growth rate during the previous business cycle—from 2007 to 2019—and is just above 

the long-term rate of 2.3 percent per year from 1987 to 2020. (See chart 4 and tables A1 and 3.) 

Unit labor costs in the total manufacturing sector increased 2.9 percent in the third quarter of 2021, 

reflecting a 1.9-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 1.0-percent decrease in productivity. 

Manufacturing unit labor costs increased 1.9 percent from the same quarter a year ago. (See tables A1 

and 3.) 

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

2019 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2021 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3

Output Hours Worked

Chart 3. Output and Hours Worked index series, nonfarm business, 2019 Q4 – 2021 Q3 

Index (2019 Q4=100)
-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 5.) 

Revised measures 

Revised and previous measures for the second quarter of 2021 are shown in tables A2 and B1, covering 

the following major sectors: nonfarm business, business, manufacturing, and nonfinancial corporations. 

In the second quarter of 2021, nonfarm business sector productivity was revised up, due primarily to 

an upward revision to output, and increased 2.4 percent rather than 2.1 percent as reported September 2. 

Unit labor costs increased 1.1 percent, slightly less than previously reported. (See table B1.) 

Manufacturing sector productivity rose 8.5 percent in the second quarter; an upward revision of 0.5 

percentage point that reflected both a 0.3-percentage point upward revision to output and a 0.2-percentage 

point downward revision to hours worked. Durable manufacturing productivity grew 5.7 percent, 1.1 

percentage point higher than the previous estimate. Nondurable manufacturing productivity grew 9.8 

percent, slightly lower than the prior estimate. Unit labor costs in total manufacturing were revised down 

0.5-percentage point and decreased 3.5 percent in the second quarter, reflecting the upward revision to 

productivity. 

Second-quarter 2021 measures of productivity and costs were revised for the nonfinancial corporate 

sector. Productivity decreased 1.8 percent rather than decreasing 4.0 percent as previously reported 

due to an upward revision to output; hours worked were not revised. Unit labor costs increased 5.7 

percent rather than the preliminary estimate of 8.0 percent. (See table A2.) 

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

www.bls.gov/lpc/#data. 

______________ 

The revised Productivity and Costs news release for third-quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released 

on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

2019 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2021 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3

Output Hours Worked

Chart 4. Output and Hours Worked index series, manufacturing, 2019 Q4 – 2021 Q3

Index (2019 Q4=100)
-4- 

 

Table A1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - preliminary third-quarter 2021 

(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 -5.0 1.7 7.0 2.9 -3.5 8.3 

A year ago -0.5 6.1 6.7 4.3 -1.0 4.8 

Business Previous quarter -4.8 1.4 6.5 3.3 -3.1 8.5 

A year ago -0.6 5.9 6.6 4.3 -0.9 5.0 

Manufacturing Previous quarter -1.0 5.7 6.7 1.9 -4.5 2.9 

A year ago 2.4 6.3 3.8 4.3 -0.9 1.9 

Durable 

manufacturing 

Previous quarter 1.4 9.9 8.4 0.8 -5.5 -0.6 

A year ago 3.2 6.8 3.5 4.9 -0.3 1.7 

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Previous quarter -2.6 1.3 4.0 3.5 -2.9 6.2 

A year ago 1.3 5.8 4.4 3.3 -1.9 2.0 

Table A2. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published second-quarter 2021 

(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 -1.8 2.9 4.9 3.8 -4.3 5.7 

Previously published -4.0 0.7 4.9 3.7 -4.4 8.0 

Table B1. Labor productivity growth and related measures - revised and previously published second-quarter 2021 

(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 2.4 8.5 5.9 3.5 -4.6 1.1 

Previously published 2.1 8.1 6.0 3.4 -4.6 1.3 

Business Revised 2.6 8.2 5.4 3.9 -4.2 1.3 

Previously published 2.4 7.9 5.4 3.9 -4.2 1.4 

Manufacturing Revised 8.5 5.8 -2.5 4.7 -3.5 -3.5 

Previously published 8.0 5.5 -2.3 4.7 -3.4 -3.0 

Durable 

manufacturing 

Revised 5.7 -0.1 -5.4 5.2 -3.0 -0.4 

Previously published 4.6 -0.9 -5.2 5.3 -2.9 0.7 

Nondurable 

manufacturing

Revised 9.8 12.6 2.6 4.5 -3.6 -4.8 

Previously published 10.0 12.9 2.7 4.5 -3.6 -5.0 
-5- 

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 (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 75 percent of the value of GDP in 2020. Nonfarm 

business, which excludes farming, accounted for about 74 percent of GDP in 2020. 

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 49 percent of the value of GDP in 2020. 
-6- 

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. 
 -7- 

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) 

2021 III -4.8 1.4 6.5 3.3 -3.1 8.5 2.9 6.1 

 II 2.6 r 8.2 r 5.4 3.9 -4.2 1.3 r 16.3 r 7.3 

 I 4.2 8.2 3.8 1.5 -2.1 -2.6 17.3 5.1 

2020 ANNUAL 2.4 -4.2 -6.5 6.8 5.5 4.3 -4.8 0.4 

2020 IV -4.2 6.1 10.8 8.6 6.0 13.4 -13.3 1.6 

 III 5.9 44.7 36.7 -4.7 -9.0 -10.0 31.7 5.1 

 II 10.2 -36.8 -42.7 21.9 25.8 10.6 -23.2 -4.6 

 I -1.1 -6.8 -5.8 9.2 8.1 10.5 -12.6 0.0 

2019 ANNUAL 1.9 2.6 0.7 3.8 2.0 1.8 1.1 1.5 

2019 IV 0.5 1.8 1.3 3.9 1.3 3.4 -1.2 1.4 

 III 0.6 3.1 2.5 0.1 -1.2 -0.4 2.5 0.8 

 II 4.3 3.5 -0.7 1.4 -2.0 -2.7 10.3 2.7 

 I 3.2 3.1 -0.2 9.4 8.6 5.9 -5.9 0.7 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 III -0.6 5.9 6.6 4.3 -0.9 5.0 5.0 5.0 

 II 2.0 15.8 r 13.5 2.2 -2.5 0.2 11.7 4.7 

 I 3.9 1.2 -2.6 6.4 4.4 2.4 0.7 1.7 

2020 ANNUAL 2.4 -4.2 -6.5 6.8 5.5 4.3 -4.8 0.4 

2020 IV 2.5 -2.5 -4.9 8.3 7.0 5.7 -6.4 0.5 

 III 3.8 -3.5 -7.0 7.2 5.8 3.3 -3.3 0.4 

 II 2.5 -11.3 -13.5 8.5 8.0 5.9 -9.2 -0.6 

 I 1.1 0.3 -0.7 3.6 1.5 2.5 -0.6 1.2 

2019 ANNUAL 1.9 2.6 0.7 3.8 2.0 1.8 1.1 1.5 

2019 IV 2.1 2.9 0.7 3.7 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.4 

 III 2.0 2.7 0.6 3.1 1.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 

 II 2.0 2.4 0.4 4.2 2.4 2.2 0.5 1.5 

 I 1.5 2.5 1.0 4.2 2.6 2.7 0.4 1.7 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 III 111.6 124.5 111.5 134.5 112.9 120.5 111.0 116.4 

 II 113.0 r 124.1 r 109.8 r 133.5 r 113.8 r 118.1 r 110.2 r 114.6 r 

 I 112.3 121.6 108.3 132.2 115.0 117.7 106.2 112.6 

2020 ANNUAL 110.5 116.0 105.0 128.8 114.0 116.5 103.0 110.6 

2020 IV 111.1 119.3 107.3 131.7 115.6 118.5 102.0 111.3 

 III 112.3 117.5 104.6 129.0 113.9 114.8 105.7 110.8 

 II 110.7 107.2 96.8 130.6 116.7 117.9 98.7 109.5 

 I 108.1 120.2 111.2 124.2 110.1 115.0 105.4 110.8 

2019 ANNUAL 107.9 121.2 112.3 120.5 108.0 111.7 108.3 110.2 

2019 IV 108.4 122.3 112.9 121.5 108.0 112.1 109.0 110.8 

 III 108.2 121.8 112.5 120.4 107.7 111.2 109.3 110.4 

 II 108.1 120.8 111.8 120.3 108.0 111.3 108.6 110.2 

 I 106.9 119.8 112.0 119.9 108.5 112.1 106.0 109.4 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 
 -8- 

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) 

2021 III -5.0 1.7 7.0 2.9 -3.5 8.3 2.6 5.9 

 II 2.4 r 8.5 r 5.9 r 3.5 r -4.6 1.1 r 13.8 r 6.1 r 

 I 4.3 8.4 4.0 1.4 -2.2 -2.8 16.6 4.6 

2020 ANNUAL 2.4 -4.4 -6.6 7.0 5.6 4.5 -4.9 0.4 

2020 IV -3.4 6.2 9.9 9.4 6.8 13.3 -14.8 0.9 

 III 4.6 44.6 38.2 -5.7 -10.0 -9.9 30.5 4.7 

 II 11.2 -36.9 -43.2 22.7 26.6 10.3 -21.7 -3.9 

 I -1.8 -7.4 -5.7 9.3 8.2 11.3 -13.2 0.2 

2019 ANNUAL 2.0 2.7 0.7 3.8 2.0 1.8 1.2 1.5 

2019 IV 0.6 1.8 1.2 4.1 1.5 3.5 -1.5 1.3 

 III 0.8 3.2 2.4 0.2 -1.1 -0.5 2.4 0.7 

 II 4.3 3.6 -0.7 1.4 -2.0 -2.8 10.6 2.7 

 I 3.4 3.4 0.0 9.2 8.4 5.6 -5.5 0.7 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 III -0.5 6.1 6.7 4.3 -1.0 4.8 3.8 4.4 

 II 1.9 r 15.9 r 13.7 2.0 -2.7 0.1 r 10.2 r 4.1 

 I 4.1 1.3 -2.7 6.4 4.5 2.3 0.4 1.5 

2020 ANNUAL 2.4 -4.4 -6.6 7.0 5.6 4.5 -4.9 0.4 

2020 IV 2.5 -2.7 -5.0 8.5 7.2 5.8 -6.8 0.4 

 III 3.6 -3.7 -7.0 7.1 5.8 3.4 -3.3 0.5 

 II 2.6 -11.5 -13.7 8.8 8.3 6.0 -9.0 -0.4 

 I 1.0 0.2 -0.8 3.7 1.6 2.7 -0.8 1.2 

2019 ANNUAL 2.0 2.7 0.7 3.8 2.0 1.8 1.2 1.5 

2019 IV 2.3 3.0 0.7 3.7 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4 

 III 2.1 2.8 0.6 3.1 1.3 0.9 2.1 1.4 

 II 2.2 2.6 0.3 4.3 2.4 2.1 0.8 1.5 

 I 1.6 2.6 1.1 4.3 2.6 2.7 0.6 1.8 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 III 111.3 124.4 111.7 134.6 112.9 120.9 110.6 116.4 

 II 112.8 r 123.9 r 109.9 r 133.7 r 114.0 r 118.5 r 110.0 r 114.8 r 

 I 112.1 121.4 108.3 132.5 115.3 118.2 106.5 113.1 

2020 ANNUAL 110.2 115.7 105.0 129.1 114.3 117.1 103.8 111.3 

2020 IV 110.9 118.9 107.2 132.1 116.0 119.1 102.5 111.8 

 III 111.9 117.2 104.7 129.1 114.1 115.4 106.6 111.6 

 II 110.6 106.9 96.6 131.0 117.1 118.4 99.8 110.3 

 I 107.7 119.9 111.3 124.5 110.4 115.6 106.1 111.4 

2019 ANNUAL 107.7 121.0 112.4 120.7 108.2 112.1 109.2 110.8 

2019 IV 108.2 122.2 112.9 121.8 108.2 112.5 109.9 111.4 

 III 108.1 121.6 112.6 120.5 107.8 111.6 110.3 111.0 

 II 107.8 120.7 111.9 120.5 108.1 111.7 109.7 110.8 

 I 106.7 119.6 112.1 120.1 108.7 112.5 106.9 110.1 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 
 -9- 

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) 

2021 III -1.0 5.7 6.7 1.9 -4.5 2.9 

 II 8.5 r 5.8 r -2.5 r 4.7 -3.5 r -3.5 r 

 I -0.8 r 2.9 3.8 0.6 -3.1 1.4 r 

2020 ANNUAL 0.3 -6.4 -6.6 6.8 5.4 6.5 

2020 IV 3.1 11.0 7.6 10.5 7.9 7.2 

 III 19.4 56.2 30.8 -12.0 -16.0 -26.3 

 II -10.3 -44.5 -38.1 27.2 31.3 41.9 

 I 1.8 -5.5 -7.2 7.8 6.7 6.0 

2019 ANNUAL -1.4 -1.7 -0.2 2.8 1.0 4.3 

2019 IV -1.6 -1.5 0.1 6.7 4.0 8.5 

 III -1.3 -0.2 1.1 -1.1 -2.4 0.2 

 II -2.0 -3.3 -1.4 1.7 -1.7 3.8 

 I -1.1 -4.2 -3.1 6.2 5.4 7.4 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 III 2.4 6.3 3.8 4.3 -0.9 1.9 

 II 7.3 r 17.2 r 9.2 r 0.6 -4.0 -6.2 r 

 I 2.3 -0.2 r -2.5 5.6 3.7 3.2 r 

2020 ANNUAL 0.3 -6.4 -6.6 6.8 5.4 6.5 

2020 IV 3.0 -2.4 -5.2 7.5 6.2 4.4 

 III 1.7 -5.2 -6.8 6.5 5.2 4.7 

 II -3.0 -15.3 -12.7 9.7 9.2 13.1 

 I -0.8 -2.7 -1.9 3.7 1.6 4.6 

2019 ANNUAL -1.4 -1.7 -0.2 2.8 1.0 4.3 

2019 IV -1.5 -2.3 -0.8 3.3 1.3 4.9 

 III -1.8 -2.5 -0.7 2.3 0.5 4.2 

 II -1.7 -1.8 -0.1 3.5 1.6 5.4 

 I -0.7 -0.1 0.6 2.1 0.5 2.9 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 III 99.8 102.5 102.7 127.7 107.2 128.1 

 II 100.0 r 101.1 r 101.1 r 127.2 r 108.4 r 127.2 r 

 I 98.0 r 99.7 r 101.7 125.7 109.4 128.3 r 

2020 ANNUAL 96.2 95.4 99.2 123.2 109.1 128.1 

2020 IV 98.2 99.0 100.8 125.5 110.2 127.8 

 III 97.4 96.4 99.0 122.4 108.1 125.6 

 II 93.2 86.2 92.5 126.4 113.0 135.6 

 I 95.8 99.9 104.3 119.0 105.5 124.3 

2019 ANNUAL 95.9 101.9 106.2 115.4 103.5 120.3 

2019 IV 95.4 101.3 106.3 116.8 103.8 122.5 

 III 95.8 101.7 106.2 114.9 102.8 120.0 

 II 96.1 101.8 105.9 115.2 103.4 119.9 

 I 96.6 102.7 106.3 114.7 103.9 118.8 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

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

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) 

2021 III 1.4 9.9 8.4 0.8 -5.5 -0.6 

 II 5.7 r -0.1 r -5.4 r 5.2 r -3.0 r -0.4 r 

 I 1.1 r 6.7 r 5.5 1.8 -1.9 0.7 

2020 ANNUAL -0.2 -8.1 -8.0 6.8 5.5 7.0 

2020 IV 4.8 11.0 6.0 12.3 9.6 7.2 

 III 44.6 97.9 36.9 -16.1 -19.9 -42.0 

 II -20.3 -54.4 -42.8 29.7 33.9 62.7 

 I -2.6 -10.0 -7.6 6.9 5.8 9.7 

2019 ANNUAL -1.7 -1.8 0.0 2.3 0.4 4.1 

2019 IV -1.0 -2.0 -1.1 10.2 7.4 11.3 

 III -1.0 -0.2 0.8 -2.4 -3.6 -1.4 

 II -1.0 -3.3 -2.4 0.9 -2.4 1.9 

 I -2.9 -5.7 -2.9 5.8 5.0 8.9 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 III 3.2 6.8 3.5 4.9 -0.3 1.7 

 II 12.8 r 23.7 r 9.7 0.2 -4.4 -11.1 r 

 I 5.1 1.7 r -3.3 5.6 3.6 0.5 

2020 ANNUAL -0.2 -8.1 -8.0 6.8 5.5 7.0 

2020 IV 4.1 -2.6 -6.4 6.9 5.6 2.6 

 III 2.7 -5.6 -8.0 6.4 5.1 3.6 

 II -6.6 -20.4 -14.8 10.5 10.1 18.3 

 I -1.4 -4.0 -2.6 3.8 1.7 5.3 

2019 ANNUAL -1.7 -1.8 0.0 2.3 0.4 4.1 

2019 IV -1.5 -2.9 -1.4 3.5 1.5 5.1 

 III -2.0 -2.4 -0.4 1.3 -0.5 3.4 

 II -2.0 -1.7 0.3 2.6 0.8 4.7 

 I -1.5 -0.1 1.4 1.6 0.0 3.1 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 III 102.2 103.5 101.2 128.4 107.7 125.6 

 II 101.9 r 101.1 r 99.2 r 128.1 r 109.3 r 125.8 r 

 I 100.5 r 101.1 r 100.6 126.5 110.1 125.9 r 

2020 ANNUAL 96.4 94.4 97.9 123.8 109.6 128.5 

2020 IV 100.2 99.5 99.3 126.0 110.6 125.7 

 III 99.0 96.9 97.8 122.4 108.1 123.5 

 II 90.3 81.7 90.5 127.9 114.3 141.6 

 I 95.6 99.4 104.0 119.8 106.2 125.3 

2019 ANNUAL 96.6 102.7 106.4 116.0 104.0 120.1 

2019 IV 96.2 102.1 106.1 117.8 104.7 122.5 

 III 96.4 102.6 106.4 115.0 102.9 119.2 

 II 96.7 102.7 106.2 115.7 103.8 119.6 

 I 96.9 103.5 106.8 115.4 104.5 119.1 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

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

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) 

2021 III -2.6 1.3 4.0 3.5 -2.9 6.2 

 II 9.8 r 12.6 r 2.6 r 4.5 -3.6 -4.8 r 

 I -2.1 r -1.1 r 1.0 -2.1 -5.6 0.0 r 

2020 ANNUAL -0.1 -4.4 -4.3 7.1 5.8 7.2 

2020 IV 0.5 10.9 10.3 7.6 5.1 7.1 

 III -0.1 21.4 21.5 -4.8 -9.1 -4.8 

 II -3.3 -31.7 -29.4 25.2 29.3 29.5 

 I 6.6 -0.3 -6.4 9.8 8.7 3.1 

2019 ANNUAL -1.0 -1.6 -0.6 3.9 2.0 4.9 

2019 IV -3.1 -0.9 2.3 0.5 -2.0 3.7 

 III -1.7 -0.2 1.5 1.4 0.1 3.2 

 II -3.8 -3.3 0.5 3.6 0.1 7.6 

 I 1.0 -2.5 -3.5 6.9 6.1 5.8 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 III 1.3 5.8 4.4 3.3 -1.9 2.0 

 II 1.9 r 10.7 8.6 1.2 -3.5 -0.7 r 

 I -1.3 -2.4 -1.1 5.9 3.9 7.2 

2020 ANNUAL -0.1 -4.4 -4.3 7.1 5.8 7.2 

2020 IV 0.9 -2.2 -3.0 9.0 7.6 8.0 

 III -0.1 -4.9 -4.8 7.1 5.8 7.2 

 II -0.5 -9.4 -9.0 8.8 8.3 9.3 

 I -0.6 -1.2 -0.6 3.8 1.6 4.4 

2019 ANNUAL -1.0 -1.6 -0.6 3.9 2.0 4.9 

2019 IV -1.9 -1.8 0.2 3.1 1.0 5.1 

 III -1.4 -2.5 -1.1 4.3 2.5 5.8 

 II -1.3 -1.9 -0.7 5.2 3.3 6.6 

 I 0.6 -0.1 -0.7 3.0 1.3 2.4 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 III 97.5 102.6 105.3 127.0 106.5 130.2 

 II 98.1 r 102.3 r 104.3 r 125.9 r 107.3 r 128.3 r 

 I 95.9 r 99.3 r 103.6 124.5 108.3 129.9 r 

2020 ANNUAL 96.5 97.7 101.3 122.4 108.4 126.9 

2020 IV 96.4 99.6 103.3 125.1 109.9 129.8 

 III 96.2 97.0 100.8 122.9 108.5 127.7 

 II 96.3 92.5 96.0 124.4 111.2 129.2 

 I 97.1 101.7 104.8 117.6 104.2 121.1 

2019 ANNUAL 96.5 102.2 105.9 114.3 102.5 118.4 

2019 IV 95.5 101.8 106.5 114.9 102.1 120.2 

 III 96.3 102.0 105.9 114.7 102.6 119.1 

 II 96.7 102.1 105.5 114.3 102.6 118.2 

 I 97.7 102.9 105.4 113.3 102.6 116.0 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

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

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) 

2021 II -1.8 r 2.9 r 4.9 3.8 r -4.3 r 5.7 r -12.1 r 0.1 r 63.1 r 7.9 r 

 I 5.0 8.9 3.7 0.0 -3.6 -4.8 18.7 1.6 30.0 5.1 

2020 ANNUAL 2.2 -4.2 -6.3 6.9 5.6 4.6 -10.6 -0.2 2.4 0.1 

2020 IV 16.3 28.4 10.3 7.7 5.2 -7.4 53.3 6.3 -31.4 -0.2 

 III -0.8 31.7 32.8 -5.7 -9.9 -4.9 -21.4 -9.6 206.1 6.2 

 II 3.8 -39.0 -41.2 25.0 29.1 20.5 -49.3 -6.5 -9.1 -6.8 

 I 1.1 -3.3 -4.3 7.8 6.7 6.6 4.2 5.8 -35.4 -0.4 

2019 ANNUAL 1.4 2.3 0.9 3.9 2.1 2.5 1.9 2.3 -1.2 1.9 

2019 IV 1.1 2.2 1.1 3.6 1.0 2.6 -2.7 0.8 8.8 1.8 

 III 0.5 1.1 0.6 1.0 -0.4 0.5 5.3 2.0 2.6 2.1 

 II 1.3 1.6 0.3 2.3 -1.2 1.0 1.7 1.2 13.3 2.6 

 I 2.7 3.4 0.7 8.0 7.2 5.2 3.2 4.6 -31.2 -1.0 

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

 Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year 

2021 II 4.4 r 17.3 r 12.4 1.3 -3.3 -3.0 r 5.9 r -0.6 r 45.2 r 4.7 

 I 5.9 3.0 -2.8 6.2 4.2 0.2 -7.7 -2.3 25.5 1.0 

2020 ANNUAL 2.2 -4.2 -6.3 6.9 5.6 4.6 -10.6 -0.2 2.4 0.1 

2020 IV 4.9 -0.1 -4.7 8.2 6.9 3.1 -10.7 -1.2 5.4 -0.4 

 III 1.3 -5.6 -6.8 7.1 5.8 5.8 -20.3 -2.5 18.3 0.1 

 II 1.6 -11.6 -13.0 9.0 8.5 7.3 -14.2 0.4 -10.0 -0.9 

 I 1.0 0.4 -0.6 3.6 1.5 2.6 2.1 2.4 -4.9 1.5 

2019 ANNUAL 1.4 2.3 0.9 3.9 2.1 2.5 1.9 2.3 -1.2 1.9 

2019 IV 1.4 2.1 0.7 3.7 1.6 2.3 1.8 2.1 -3.4 1.4 

 III 1.1 1.7 0.7 3.5 1.7 2.4 3.2 2.6 -2.4 2.0 

 II 2.2 3.0 0.8 4.5 2.6 2.2 1.1 1.9 0.8 1.7 

 I 0.9 2.3 1.4 4.1 2.5 3.2 1.4 2.6 0.6 2.3 

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

 Indexes 2012=100 

2021 II 110.7 r 122.9 r 111.0 r 132.8 r 113.3 r 120.0 r 97.5 r 112.5 r 128.7 r 114.8 r 

 I 111.3 122.0 109.6 131.6 114.5 118.3 100.7 112.4 113.8 112.6 

2020 ANNUAL 106.7 113.7 106.5 128.9 114.1 120.8 96.3 112.6 100.9 111.0 

2020 IV 109.9 119.4 108.6 131.6 115.6 119.8 96.5 112.0 106.6 111.2 

 III 105.8 112.2 106.0 129.2 114.1 122.1 86.7 110.3 117.2 111.3 

 II 106.1 104.7 98.7 131.1 117.2 123.6 92.1 113.1 88.6 109.6 

 I 105.1 118.5 112.8 124.0 109.9 118.0 109.1 115.0 90.7 111.6 

2019 ANNUAL 104.4 118.7 113.7 120.6 108.1 115.5 107.7 112.9 98.5 110.8 

2019 IV 104.8 119.5 114.0 121.7 108.1 116.1 108.0 113.4 101.2 111.7 

 III 104.5 118.8 113.7 120.6 107.9 115.4 108.7 113.2 99.1 111.2 

 II 104.4 118.5 113.5 120.3 108.0 115.3 107.3 112.6 98.4 110.6 

 I 104.0 118.0 113.4 119.6 108.3 115.0 106.9 112.3 95.4 109.9 

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

See footnotes following Table 6. November 4, 2021 

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

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 +1.4 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 second quarter of 2021. For more about revisions to labor productivity growth see 

“How large are revisions to estimates of quarterly labor productivity growth?” at 

www.bls.gov/osmr/research-papers/2021/ec210040.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 1978-2020 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.