Labor Productivity Rose 1.6% in Third Quarter

Washington, DC, November 5, 2015-- Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 1.6% annual rate during the third quarter of 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported, as output increased 1.2% and hours worked decreased 0.5%.

The decline in hours worked was the first decline in this series since a 4.8% decline in the third quarter of 2009.

From the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2015, productivity increased 0.4%, reflecting increases in output and hours worked of 2.3% and 1.9%, respectively.