ABJ - December 2 - Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 0.3 per cent annual rate during the second quarter of 2011, reported the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. From the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of this year, output increased 2.5 per cent while hours rose 1.6 per cent, yielding an increase in productivity of 0.8 per cent.

Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses rose 2.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2011, as hourly compensation increased 1.9 per cent while productivity decreased 0.3 per cent. Over the last year, hourly compensation increased more than output per hour, while unit labor costs rose 1.3 per cent.

Manufacturing sector productivity fell two per cent in the second quarter of 2011, as output rose 0.6 per cent and hours increased 2.6 per cent. Over the last year, manufacturing productivity increased 2.3 per cent. Unit labor costs in manufacturing increased 4.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2011, unchanged over the last year.

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