Productivity and Costs by Industry: Selected Service-Providing Industries News Release — 2016-05-18

Labor productivity rose in 15 of 28 selected service-providing industries in 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was fewer than in 2014, when labor productivity increased in 20 of 28 industries. In 2015 output increased in fewer industries than in 2014, while hours worked increased in more industries than in 2014. Unit labor costs declined in 10 industries in 2015. Each of the industries with declines in unit labor costs also recorded increases in productivity. Increases in labor productivity counter the impact of rising hourly compensation on unit labor costs facing employers. Productivity and cost measures are published in this release for the first time for amusement parks and arcades, and for specialized freight trucking. * Labor productivity increased in 15 of 28 industries in 2015. Among those with increasing productivity, output grew in all but two. Hours worked declined in 9 of the 28 industries.