Katie Kirkland examines the effect of industry shifts on measurement of the workweek in the private sector. Computer and office equipment posted the largest increase in labor productivity on average 25.1 percent per year. Unit labor costs declined by an average of 17.2 percent per year in this industry. Annual productivity increases and unit labor cost reductions in the electronic components and accessories industry also averaged in the double digits from 1987 through 1997. Productivity increases averaged 19.8 percent per year, and unit labor cost declines averaged 13.0 percent.
Labor productivity is measured by output per hour.
Labor productivity for the manufacturing sector as a whole increased by an average of 3.0 percent per year between 1987 and 1997, according to a separate analysis. Top Retirees spending more on health insurance Retired households spent more of their budgets on health insurance in 1997 than in 1987. In 1997, the share of retired households expenditures devoted to health insurance was 7.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in 1987. The share spent on all other health care expenses fell to 5.9 percent in 1997, from 6.6 percent in 1987. The health insurance share thus rose 2.2 percentage points, compared with 1.4 percentage points for entertainment and 0.4 percentage point for transportation.