2021 Fourth Quarter (Preliminary) Productivity and Costs — 2022-02-03

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 9.2 percent and hours worked increased 2.4 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 2.0 percent. (See table A1.) Annual average productivity increased 1.9 percent from 2020 to 2021. (See table C1.) Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, reflecting a 6.9-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 6.6-percent increase in productivity. Unit labor costs increased 3.1 percent over the last four quarters. (See table A1.) BLS calculates unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity. Increases in hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor costs and increases in productivity tend to reduce them.