2016 First Quarter (Preliminary) Productivity and Costs — 2016-05-04

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 1.0-percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 0.4 percent and hours worked increased 1.5 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the first quarter of 2015 to the first quarter of 2016, productivity increased 0.6 percent. (See table A.) Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2016, reflecting a 3.0-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 1.0-percent decrease in productivity. Unit labor costs increased 2.3 percent over the last four quarters. (See tables A and 2.) BLS calculates unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity.