Productivity and Costs by Industry: Selected Service-Providing Industries News Release — 2019-05-23

Labor productivity rose in 18 of 28 selected service-providing industries in 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was similar to 2017, when labor productivity increased in 19 of 28 industries. Output increased in 21 industries in 2018, while hours worked increased in 15 industries. � Labor productivity increased in 18 of 28 industries in 2018. Among those with increasing productivity, output grew in 15 industries and hours worked grew in 7 industries. � Productivity gains of at least 7.0 percent occurred in 4 industries: natural gas distribution (13.5 percent), drycleaning and laundry services (10.9 percent), wireless telecommunications carriers (10.1 percent), and travel arrangement and reservation services (7.3 percent). In all 4 of these industries, output increases coincided with declines in hours worked. � Hours worked grew in 15 of the 28 industries. � Hours worked increased in 8 industries which recorded declines in productivity.