Productivity And Costs By Industry: — 2007-04-19

Labor productivity -- defined as output per hour -- rose in 2005 in 88 percent of the manufacturing industries studied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Output (the production of manufactured goods) rose in 83 percent of the industries, while hours fell in 65 percent of the industries. Unit labor costs declined in 69 percent of manufacturing industries. The share of industries with productivity increases over a longer period was even greater. From 1987 to 2005, labor productivity increased in all but one manufacturing industry. Output rose in 80 percent of the industries, while hours fell in 80 percent. Unit labor costs fell in 22 percent of the industries. The attached tables present data for all manufacturing subsectors (3-digit) and detailed industries (4-digit) as classified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Labor productivity rose in 2005 in 76 of the 86 detailed manufacturing industries.