Computer and office equipment posted the largest increase in labor productivity, on average, 25.1 percent per year between 1987 and 1997. Unit labor costs declined by an average of 17.2 percent per year for 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. The data on productivity and unit labor costs for specific manufacturing industries are a product of the Industry Productivity program.
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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor .