US Labor Productivity
US quarterly labor productivity, output per hour, unit labor costs, and compensation from the BLS.
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q3-2023 | Q2-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor productivity (output per hour) | +2.2% | +2.9% | +2.5% | +2.5% | +2.1% | +2.0% | +2.3% | +2.9% | +3.2% | +3.3% | +3.5% | +3.1% | +1.9% | |
| Unit labor costs | +1.4% | +0.4% | +1.8% | +2.0% | +2.0% | +3.0% | +2.6% | +2.2% | +2.2% | +2.6% | +1.8% | +1.0% | +2.4% | |
| Hourly compensation (nominal) | +3.7% | +3.3% | +4.3% | +4.5% | +4.1% | +5.1% | +4.9% | +5.2% | +5.5% | +6.0% | +5.3% | +4.1% | +4.4% | |
| Hourly compensation (adjusted for inflation) | −0.3% | +0.6% | +1.6% | +1.8% | +1.8% | +2.3% | +2.1% | +2.3% | +2.3% | +2.6% | +2.0% | +0.6% | +0.3% | |
| Total hours worked | +0.2% | +0.4% | +0.2% | +0.4% | +0.4% | +0.2% | +0.2% | 0.0% | +0.1% | −0.2% | +0.2% | +0.5% | +1.1% |
Latest reading
Labor productivity (output per hour) stood at 120.02 in Q2 2026. That is +0.4% from Q1 2026 and +2.2% from a year earlier. The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q1 1947 to Q2 2026. Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).
- vs a year earlier
- +2.2%
- Q2 2026
- vs previous period
- +0.4%
- Q1 2026
- Latest
- 120.02
- Q2 2026
About this data
US quarterly labor productivity, output per hour, unit labor costs, and compensation from the BLS. This table provides series for labor productivity, unit labor costs, nominal and inflation-adjusted hourly compensation, and total hours worked in the United States. Data goes back to 1947 and is published quarterly by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Frequently asked questions
- What does US labor productivity measure?
- US labor productivity measures the output per hour worked in the nonfarm business sector of the United States. It reflects the efficiency with which labor inputs are used to produce goods and services.
- How often is the US labor productivity data published and how far back does it go?
- The data is published on a quarterly basis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, with historical series starting from 1947.
- What specific metrics are included in this table?
- The table includes labor productivity, unit labor costs, nominal hourly compensation, hourly compensation adjusted for inflation, and total hours worked in the United States.
- Why are unit labor costs important alongside productivity?
- Unit labor costs show the cost of labor associated with producing a single unit of output in the United States, helping analysts gauge wage pressures relative to worker efficiency.
