2019 Multifactor Productivity Trends for Detailed Industries — 2021-08-26

Multifactor productivity�defined as output per unit of combined inputs--fell in 61 of the 86 4-digit NAICS manufacturing industries in 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In 2018 multifactor productivity decreased in 37 manufacturing industries. Among transportation industries, multifactor productivity increased in air transportation and decreased in line-haul railroads. Eight of the nine largest 4-digit NAICS manufacturing industries (those with employment over 350,000) had decreasing multifactor productivity in 2019. Only the aerospace products and parts industry had rising multifactor productivity. Output fell or was unchanged from 2018 in all nine industries, with the largest decline occurring in printing and related support activities (-5.7 percent). A rise in combined inputs paired with falling or flat output resulted in declining multifactor productivity for five of the nine industries.